#ALSO LIES OF P GOT CATS

[captain-k8kat]

So far, I don't like lies of p as much as I like bloodborne, though that's not saying much because I love bloodborne more than any other game. Lies of P is still a really excellent game.

[tadc-harlequin-au]

God your designs are so fucking good bro, I'd love to know how the design process went

lmfao, I can give some insights

Caine's design was mostly an accident. In the scrapped initial intro animatic for this AU, he had a placeholder design until I could finalize him when I went to clean up the frames

which became this, then this, then...

He literally got designed as the animatic went on, the coat on shoulders was a subconscious approach because I blame One Piece for making me a coat-on-shoulders whore. His final coat design is mostly taken from my own oc lol

up to this point, I had no idea how he would've been colored until I did this shitpost

Pomni's is weird too

She was partially inspired by both the Circus breach crack idea, Pauline from my Unexpected Reunion AU, and Mystery!Pomni because I do love women (in suits)

so if Caine was designed overtime within an animatic, Pomni's design spanned fucking AUs-

Ragatha was literally just me thinking, "hm. what if. hear me out. maid. but tattered skirt cus puppet revolution time"

this is her VERY first appearance and it hasn't changed much since leave me alone let me enjoy women being gay

Now, Kingr is actually the closest ANY design in this AU would come to it's base inspiration Lies of P, because AUGH King of Puppets my beloved

He started as a boss design from the get go then reverse engineered to look more friendly, because by the time I was designing him, I was already incorporating the idea of Pomni having to fight bosses so she could free them from these insane forms of theirs

This idea was recycled from my other AU for fnaf btw, the Eternal Eclipse AU where Freddy has to free the other Glamrocks from their "Primal forms" by fighting them WITH THE POWER OF ROCK AND ROLLLLLLLLLL (which are GIGANTIC and INSANE, sound familiar yet?)

back to the rest, I actually didn't really know what I wanted for Jax, aside from a Cheshire Cat motif from Tim Burton's Alice in Wonderland because love that mofo and Jax's constant smile reminds me of him

I guess that's why his initial design was so unnecessarily cluttered and so hard to draw, because all I knew was that I wanted it to be loose, flowy, bouncy and airy, like an actual cartoon. But, still respecting the laws of reality somewhat

and then I had to switch the outfit out, because at around this time, The Patriarch's design was finalized, and I didn't want people to start to think Jax was associated with him purely due to similar palettes. So I sneakily swapped it out with an explorer's outfit (since I was thinking of Jax as the team's scout), and tried to play it off as simply a "oh it was hard to draw"

He was even supposed to have goggles in the newer design, but I scrapped it because I'm repeating the same mistake of making him too cluttered again.

Z is a pretty straightforward one, although they diverged from the initial idea. My first thought was making them a brawler of sorts because they were initially going to be Pomni's training buddy, so I looked up "Victorian brawler" and yoinked the outfit I liked.

The concept of Z being the training dummy was then recycled to be Kingr's role instead because Kingr was more of a tank character than Z, and in turn, she became the weaponsmith

Each part of Z was also inspired by something that randomly came to mind when I was trying to wrack my brain with what parts should they have:

the hook peg is from Hiccup, the other peg is from A series of Unfortunate Events, the antler is a reference to Mystery!Zooble but combined with the Minecraft Warden's palette, spiked chokers were taken from my own sona's eel tongue. The flexible arms are very much Doc ock

Gangle... She was the hardest to design that my brain is blocking me from remembering the process because it was so traumatizing /j

I just know that like Caine, her design was also mostly an accident. Iirc, she wasn't meant to have cat ears/motif in the first place, but after I finished the mask with the <:3 face I went like "fuck it we ball" and went furry mode

I think she was also meant to have painted whiskers, and the only reason why she doesn't is I forgor 💀

There was no inspo for her outfit except maybe Disney Cinderella because I was only putting what worked and discarded what didn't (not recommended)

The double ribbon arms was literally just me thinking the ends are her little fingies, and her "feet" is just me wanting to make her ribbons look like a part of her dress and looking flowy because ew feet

anyways if you can't tell, there's a pattern here: recycle ideas, take inspo, look it up or fuck it we ball when all else fails lol

the lesson here is to not follow in my footsteps because I keep stepping on shit /lh

[ichigo-plasma]

Cat Cafes, Collars, and Cream

Milgram ❤︎ Haruka Sakurai x Reader

Synopsis: You take your boyfriend Sakurai Haruka to a cat cafe for a date but didn’t think he’d get this jealous of the attention you give to the cats… he wishes you’d treat him like that… maybe he’ll need to show you that’s how he wants to be treated…

On The Menu: delicious smut, leash pulling on people ;), collars, ambiguous consent, Haruka being really cute and needy, yandere Haruka(but he’s literally jealous of cats getting your attention), also i believe Haruka lies about it his age because he doesn’t want to admit he’s way older so he is an adult here!

Guide: smut starts only after the pink hearts ❤︎ ❤︎ to skip smut you can stop reading there!~

A/N: also this takes place in an AU where Milgram didn’t happen/happen yet/already ended. But there are mentions of some of Haruka’s crimes!~

Taking Haruka to a cat café seemed like a sweet idea at first. Your adorable boyfriend and adorable cats in the same room? What could be cuter? Watching him interact with the fluffy little creatures sounded like the perfect way to spend a date!

But the second you stepped inside, Haruka tensed, his grip tightening on your sleeve.

“Y-Y/N…” Haruka whined softly, his voice barely above a whisper. His eyes darted around anxiously, scanning the room like he was looking for threats. Enemies. That’s what they were. His competition.

And then, his worst fear came true.

The moment you saw a round, fluffy cat lounging by the window, your eyes lit up. “Oh my gosh, Haru-kun, look at this one! It’s so cute!”

You crouched down to pet it, completely entranced.

Haruka’s stomach twisted. His hands curled into fists at his sides. That should be him. You were supposed to be running your fingers through his hair, calling him cute, cooing over him. Not some filthy animal!

His breath hitched as his mind wandered, his thoughts spiraling into dangerous territory. You should be patting his head, cuddling him, whispering sweet things to him—not wasting your affection on some stupid cat. If only he just… if he maybe just—

No. No, he had to be good. Had to be patient. You loved him. You just needed a reminder.

“Awwww who’s a good boy!” You said to the cute cat taking all of your pets.

Good boy Haruka thought… that is what you call him…

“C-Can’t we—c-can’t we just go home?” His voice came out shaky, desperate. “Y/N, p-please?”

You glanced up at him, oblivious to the storm raging inside his mind. “Just a little longer, okay? Here, this one is super fluffy come pet it!~”

You reached out, grabbing his trembling hand and guiding it toward the cat’s soft fur. His breath hitched at the contact—not with the cat, with you. Your touch sent warmth spreading through him, and for a moment, he could almost forget the suffocating jealousy clawing at his chest like cat scratches.

His fingers barely brushed against the cat before he pulled back, his lip trembling. “It’s… i-it’s soft…” he admitted in a mumble.

You giggled. “See? Not so bad, right?”

His stomach twisted again. He didn’t want to see you smile at them. He wanted you to smile at him. Only him.

The second you got home after the cat cafe date and stepped through the front door, Haruka was on you.

You barely had time to take off your shoes before he pressed you against the wall, his arms locking around your waist, a knee between your legs, his entire body trembling against yours. His head buried itself in your chest, his breath hot and shaky against your skin. His fingers laced through yours, pinning them above your head so you couldn’t move.

“W-Why d-do you— why d-do you do this to me, Y/N?” His voice was muffled against you, his grip tightening. “I-It’s not fair… You’re s-supposed to be m-mine… mine…!”

You sighed, in disbelief your boyfriend really got jealous of some fluffy cats you knew he was a bit childish and were used to his tantrums… but this one was different... “Haru—”

“No— N-No, d-don’t t-talk back—!” His voice cracked, desperate. “Y-You spent all d-day p-petting th-those— those things! A-And I was just— I was just s-sitting there—suffering at the cafe table!”

His breath hitched as he buried his face deeper into your chest as tears form in his eyes, inhaling your scent like it was the only thing keeping him grounded. “Y-You’re s-so cruel… y-you’re so cruel… b-but it’s okay… i-it’s okay…” His voice grew softer, a smirk forming on his lips brushing against your neck. “B-Because I know y-you love Haruka the most… right?”

You felt his hands tremble as they trailed down your arms, his lips pressing soft, shaky kisses along your neck. “S-Say it… Say you l-love me… s-say you b-belong to me…”

Your heart pounded nervous if you didn’t comply… he might go back to those cats at the cafe and do something extreme... “I love you, Haru,” you whispered. “More than anything.”

He shuddered.

“I-I love you too, Y/N” His voice cracked, his eyes glistening with tears. “I-I love you s-so much, i-it hurts… I-I w-want— I w-want to give you m-more love— s-so much more—”

His large, shaky hands grabbed yours as he pressed himself closer, his lips brushing against your ear.

“…L-Let’s go to bed, Y/N. L-Let Haruka s-show you how much he l-loves you.”

His smile was soft, sweet, and yet… something about it was utterly terrifying. You felt like you had no choice but to comply to your boyfriend… out of fear he might do what he did to the previous small animals he admitted he did things to when you first started dating… afraid he might see you as a small animal to dispose of next…

❤︎ ❤︎ ❤︎ ❤︎ ❤︎ ❤︎ ❤︎ ❤︎ ❤︎ ❤︎

Once you two made it to your shared bedroom, Haruka shoved you on the bed, as you fell on it Haruka’s plush rabbit slouched to the side… as if embarrassed to watch.

Haruka's shaking hands reached up to grasp a collar that lay on the bedside table, a red leather band with a heart-shaped charm dangling from it reading “If Lost, Return To Y/N”. You initially got it as a gag gift to tease him for how possessive he was with you… but he was way more into the idea of wearing it than you expected… His face was red and bashful as he held it out towards you.

"P-Put it on me, Y/N... please, put the collar on Haruka..." he whimpered, his voice trembling with need and desperation. "I want to b-be your good boy, your obedient pet... I want to show you how much I love you, h-how much I need you to care for me..."

You were hesitant at first but afraid he might do something extreme if you didn’t comply… So you took the collar from his outstretched hand, Haruka turned his back to you, presenting the nape of his slender neck. He shivered as he felt the cool leather brush against his flesh, a soft gasp escaping his lips.

With trembling fingers from fear, you fastened the collar around his neck, the click of the buckle seeming to echo loudly in the atmosphere of the bedroom. Haruka let out a shuddering sigh, his eyes fluttering closed as he savored the feeling of being claimed, of being yours, having all of your attention on himself… instead of those fluffy creatures from earlier.

Once the collar was secure he turned around and he took a step closer to you, backing you up against your shared bed until your legs hit the mattress.

His hands reached for the hem of his shirt, yanking it over his head in one swift motion. He tossed it carelessly to the floor, revealing his slender torso, the pale skin marred by the bandages and scars of his troubled past. A blush stained his cheeks as he stood before you, his chest heaving with each ragged breath. Only pants and wearing his necklace he always wore around his neck.

He then pulled down your bottoms, throwing the outer garment off to the side and placing your panties on the nearby bedside table… to take care of later…

Then, Haruka's fingers then went to the waistband of his pants, unbuttoning them with shaking hands. He shimmied out of his pants and underwear in one go, kicking them off to the side. Now completely bare, he stood before you, his slim, pale body on full display. His most intimate parts were exposed - his dick, already hard and throbbing with desperate need, jutted out in front of you. It was a testament to his overwhelming desire for you and your attention.

He pushed you down onto the bed, crawling over you with a hunger in his eyes. His hands roamed your body, touching you everywhere, claiming every inch of your skin as his own. He couldn't keep his hands off you, his touch almost frantic in its intensity.

Haruka settled himself between your legs, his hips pressing against yours. He could feel the heat radiating off your core, drawing him in like a magnet. With a low, needy whimper, he reached down and guided his hard, aching cock to your entrance. He rubbed the tip teasingly along your slit, coating himself in your slick arousal.

"Y/N... I n-need to be inside you... I need to f-feel you around me, squeezing me, drenching me in your love..." he panted, his voice strained with desire.

With a sharp thrust of his hips, he pushed forward, the head of his cock popping inside your tight, wet heat. He let out a strangled moan at the sensation, his eyes rolling back slightly. And slowly, inch by inch, he pushed more of himself inside you, stretching you around his thick, throbbing length.

Once he was fully sheathed inside you, he paused, his body trembling with the effort of holding back. He looked down at you, his gaze intense and possessive, obsessive in its love. "Y-You feel... you feel so good, Y/N... so perfect, like you were m-made just for me...”

He began to move, withdrawing until just the tip remained inside you, before slamming back in, burying himself to the hilt. He set a relentless, almost punishing pace, driven by his all-consuming need to remind you he needed your attention most, more than anyone or anything else ever could…

Haruka leaned down to capture your lips in a messy, desperate kiss, his tongue delving into your mouth to tangle with yours. All the while, he never stopped moving his hips, driving into you with force.

As you began to tighten and clench around Haruka's throbbing cock, he let out a guttural moan, his eyes squeezing shut from the exquisite sensation. He could feel your velvet walls fluttering around his sensitive flesh, gripping him like a vice.

"Ah! Y/N, are you... are you close? Are you going to come for me?" Haruka gasped out, his voice strained with exertion and emotion. When you nodded, he slowed his frantic thrusts to a stop, leaving just the tip of his erection nestled inside you.

Haruka reached for a leash you hadn’t noticed on the bedside table. He held it out to you, his eyes filled with a desperate, pleading look.

"P-Please Y/N... attach the leash to my collar..." he begged, his lower lip trembling. "I want to feel you holding me, guiding me, keeping me by your side... I want to be your loyal pet, your good boy who always stays close to you..."

He rolled his hips slightly, grinding his pelvis against yours, his half-hard cock twitching inside your heat. "I need you to pull it, Y/N... pull the leash and show me that you need me too... that I'm yours and I have to obey your every command..."

His other hand reached up to cup your cheek, his thumb brushing over your lower lip. His touch was soft, but there was an undercurrent of possessiveness, of desperation. "Please... please show me that I'm important to you... that I'm the only one you want to be with... forever and ever..."

Haruka's voice broke on the last word, tears welling up in his eyes. He needed this, needed you to reaffirm your claim on him, to prove that he belonged to you completely.

Your cheeks flushed a deep, embarrassed red as you reached out to take the leash from Haruka's shaking hand.

With a shy, nervous smile, you attached the leach to his collar and gave it a gentle tug, just as Haruka had asked. The moment the leather tightened around his neck, a shockwave of ecstasy ripped through his slender body. He let out a choked, desperate moan, his eyes rolling back and his mouth falling open in a silent scream of pleasure.

"Ahhh! Y/N! Yes, yes... I'm your loyal pet, your good boy..." Haruka blurted out, his words slurring together as he lost himself in the overwhelming sensation of finally feeling owned, claimed, loved.

Spurred on by the tug of the leash, Haruka began to move again, his hips snapping forward with renewed vigor. He thrust into you with a frenzied, almost animalistic desperation, the bed creaking beneath the force of his thrusts. The room filled with the obscene sound of skin slapping against skin, punctuated by Haruka's high, breathy moans and whimpers.

As his thrusts grew faster and harder, Haruka's hand found yours on the leash, clasping it tightly. "W-When you come... pull my collar, Y/N... pull it hard and I'll come with you, I promise..." he gasped out, his voice strained and desperate. "I want to f-feel you come first... I want to make you feel good... I want us to come together...!"

He was panting now, sweat dripping down his neck, his hair sticking to his forehead. His eyes were glazed over, staring at you with a fevered intensity as he chased your shared release. He needed it, craved it, like he needed air to breathe. He needed all of your attention.

As you felt your climax approaching, you tightened your grip on the leash and pulled it sharply, just as Haruka had begged you to. The leather dug into the soft skin of his neck as you came undone, your inner walls clenching and fluttering wildly around his pistoning cock.

"H-Haruka! I... I'm coming!" you cried out, your voice echoing off the walls of the bedroom. The sensation of your release triggered his own, and with a final, erratic thrust, Haruka buried himself as deep inside you as possible.

"Y/N! I'm coming too! I'm coming with you!" he shouted, his voice cracking. His hot, thick seed spilled into you, painting your insides with his release. He shuddered and jerked above you, wave after wave of intense pleasure crashing over his body.

In the aftermath of your shared climax, Haruka collapsed against your breasts, his chest heaving and slick with sweat. He nuzzled into your soft mounds, seeking comfort and affection like a needy kitten. His hands roamed over your curves, still desperate to touch and caress every inch of you.

"W-Was I good, Y/N? Was I a good boy for you?" Haruka asked, his voice small and hopeful. He gazed up at you with wide, vulnerable eyes, craving your validation and approval. "Tell me... tell me you like me more than those stupid, annoying fluffy cats at the cafe... Please..."

He sounded so earnest, so desperate for your assurance. His lower lip trembled slightly, and he pressed himself closer to you, if that was even possible. The collar was still tight around his neck, a symbol of your claim on him, your attention all for him.

You wrapped your arms around his shaking form, holding him close and protective, like a precious baby kitten. "Yes, Haruka... you were an incredibly good boy," you murmured, petting his hair soothingly like an owner and their cat. "I like you so much more than those silly cats... I promise, I'll never take you to that place again. You're mine, and I'll keep you safe and by my side, always..."

Haruka let out a shuddering sigh of relief and happiness at your words, his body relaxing completely. He nestled even further into your breasts, his eyes fluttering closed.

He let out a soft, satisfied yawn, his breath evening out as he allowed himself to be cradled in your embrace. His arms wrapped around your waist, clinging to you like a lifeline, like he was afraid you would disappear if he let go.

Within minutes, Haruka's body went limp and heavy in your arms as he drifted off into a deep, dreamless sleep. A small, smile played on his lips, and he looked utterly at peace, like a beautiful, little kitten finally at rest.

You held him close, your fingers combing tenderly through his soft, blue hair. All of your attention devoted to him.

A/N: Hiii~! (´｡• ᵕ •｡`) ♡ I’m totally obsessed with subby yandere boys who are super neeeeedy and whiny but still have that little dominant side when they’re pushed to their limit~! Haruka from Milgram is literally perrrrrrfect for that, but no one really writes for him (or anyone from Milgram… sobs). Alsooo, I 1000% believe he’s lying about his age and is actually way older but too embarrassed to admit it, so in my eyes, he’s an adult! (*≧ω≦)ゞ Also firrrrrst fic! I write a looooooot but always keep it for myself but Milgram lacks smut so herrrre. Next fic will have Mikoto Kayano, Orekoto, and Haruka together.

[hunterbunter3000]

Thinking about a fake dating scenario like say Sweets family is always bothering her about not dating anyone and she lies and says “actually I am seeing someone!” But then they ask to meet the person so now she has to find someone ti be her fake date. I would imagine the boys would be fighting each other for a chance to do that.

I know this is super random haha I’m just talking to talk at this point.

YES! AND RANDOM IS GOOD 👏👏 talk the talk and walk the walk babes! Any ideas you have SPEAK ON IT!!! 💓

But omg you're right, they would

Sweetheart walked in the living room, where the team was sitting on the couch drinking beers. She was talking on the phone as she walked past them to the kitchen, not even noticing the boys.

And she's talking to her mom about her love life. Saying "Yes ma! I will bring him this time!" And "You can tell Danni to shut the hell up cause he is real". And then she says love you and hangs up the phone.

Sweetheart, looking at everybody:

The boys looking at her:

Sweetheart: Okay who wants to be my boyfriend for the day

then they all say M E

And all hell breaks loose 💀💀

Soap: What tae FUCK do y'mean 'mE', Ghost?

Ghost: the fuck do YOU mean 'mEaH', Mactavish?

Soap: I SAID ME

Ghost: nah see-- you did it again. 'MeAh'. It's two letters.

Soap: AH WULL PUMPIN' BREAK YE YAH BRITISH CRUMPET

Sweetheart: uhm, guys?

Gaz: Bitch don't even try

Horangi: And why should I listen to you?

Gaz: You get a nose bleed everytime Sweets hugs you.

Horangi: WHAT?? HOW DO-- HOW CAN YOU EVEN SEE THAT I WEAR A MASK

Gaz: it drips under it, bruv. And I don't think her parents want to witness an extremely touched starved man get an aneurysm everytime their daughter touches him.

Sweetheart: GOOD LORD GAZ--

Horangi: OH YOU THINK YOU'RE SO MUCH BETTER? YOU CRY EVERYTIME SWEETHEART TELLS YOU A GOOD JOB

Gaz: YO I DO NOT-

Ghost: He cries when Capitan says it too.

Horangi: THAT TOO

Gaz: GHOST STAY THE FUCK OUT OF THIS

Price: You cry when I tell you good job?

Sweetheart, kinda touched but concerned: And you cry when I say it too?

Gaz: UHM- SIR I-- WELL SWEETS YOU-- FUCK

Krueger: Ignoring the emotionally unstable man--

Gaz: HEY

Krueger: You should take me, Kleine Göttin.

König: Don't, Sweets. You'll never return if you do

Krueger: König what the fuck

Krueger: You can't even talk your way into getting gas at a gas station, you think her parents want to see you freeze like a tortoise having sex when they talk to you?

König: AT LEAST I DONT SNIFF ANY SEATS SWEETHEART WAS IN

Krueger: THAT HAS NOTHING TO DO WITH THIS

König: IT HAS E V E R Y T H I N G TO DO WITH THIS

Sweetheart: Krueger-- YOU DO WHAT

Ghost: He also sniffs your hair

Sweetheart: You do that too, Ghost

Ghost, stares at Krueger: Not while you're sleeping.

Sweetheart: KRUEGER????

Krueger: GHOST SHUT THE FUCK U P

Alejandro: Please don't take Krueger, mama. He would end up in prison

Krueger: (angry German words)

Alejandro: You can take me! They'll love my charm.

Price: What, so you can flirt your way out of personal questions they'll most definitely ask you?

Ghost: Especially with that five-palm forehead you got

Alejandro: CÁLLATE LA BOCA DECORACIÓN DE HALLOWEEN

Rudy: Price, you have no say in this matter. You can practically be her father's golfing buddy.

Sweetheart: uhm, my dad doesn't golf--

Price: I'm 37 you fucking Muppet

Sweetheart: nevermind.

Rudy, surprised: Really?? Damn I didn't know that! You just looked like one of Super Mario's long lost cousins to me because of the janitor mustache you have on your old body

Price: Mother fucker--

Ghost: I don't think you would do well either when you look like a human gopher

Rudy: GHOST WHERE DO YOU KEEP COMING FROM

Alex: ROACH OW STOP HITTING MY FACE

Roach on Alex's shoulders:😠 pap-pap-pap-pap-pap-pap (like a fucking cat)

Sweetheart, rubbing her temples: Oh my fucking GOD- I'LL JUST CHOOSE MYSELF THIS IS TAKING TOO LONG AND GAZ LOOKS LIKE HES ABOUT TO CRY

Gaz, tearing up: I AM NOT

Soap: Me!

Horangi: It's me!

Graves, picking his nails:

Graves: It's probably not me.

Keegan: Uh... If it's no trouble, you can take me. I have to give your brother his game boy back anyway

Everyone looking at Keegan:

Soap: w u t

She takes Keegan.

(He honestly had a good time! Yes, he did start a fire with her siblings accidentally but other than that her parents loved him. Sweetheart sent pictures to everyone and omg they were so SALTY SAD AND JEALOUS. Ghost kinda smiled at a picture with Sweetheart and Keegan together, Keegan's face without the mask and grease paint wearing a nervous but kind smile. He looks happy. The others don't but they'll get over it someday💀💀)

[cheriladycl01]

My choice - Liam Lawson x BrazilianOlympicSkateBoarding! Reader

Plot: While Liam’s fixing his cars you are always found at the skatepark with your best friend Keegan, people online start to assume there’s a little more to that friendship than friends …

It was a normal Friday, and you were in Australia with Keegan. Liam was at the track for the Australian Grand Prix watching FP1 and you and Keegan had been invited by Quadrant.

You’d met through both winning Gold in 2021 at the Tokyo Olympics and had been friends ever since. When Keegan got the offer of Quadrant he said he’d only accept if they made you part of it too.

Lando and Max had in fact met you before Keegan asked for you to be part of the Quadrant Athletes having been to many F1 races with your boyfriend Liam since 2022.

You weren’t at the GP yet because you and Keegan were shooting stuff for Quadrant with Max and Ria. You and Keegan were always goofing around trying to be better than the other one or just making fun of one another.

Your relationship with Keegan was so pure. He was one of those people that you only met once in that lifeline and you hoped to meet again in another.

You knew Keegan before Liam, so naturally you guys had more inside jokes, more banter. Whereas your relationship with Liam was everything you looked for in a partner.

He took care of you, always made sure to know your worth, and eventually (when you agreed to come to races with him) showed you the world.

But some people saw you and Keegs and thought there was more to it than just friends. And it annoyed Liam more than anything.

Of course Liam didn’t care that you were friends with Keegan and he’d never ever try to come between that friendship because he wasn’t the first one there, Keegan was. But it irked him just how hard the media shipped you too.

It got to the point where he was hard-launching your relationship once a week, again and again even though it was out there that you were a couple and had been since 2022.

“Are we finally done! I need a shower now!” You complain having built up a sweat from all the fun things you’d filmed.

“Yea, all wrapped up!” Max smiles and you pull Keegan into an exhausted hug thankful that this part of the day was over. You really just wanted to go to the track now and be with Liam.

Little did you all know but Ria filmed the hug, posting it on her story and Quadrants story to let people know that you were completely done filming with the day.

“Thank god!” You groan, trotting off to the rental car Max had and jumping in the back. Keegan in tow behind you taking the seat next to you.

“So who wants to put money in a Max Verstappen win?” You ask on the drive back.

“Nah im putting money on my boy Lando!” Keegan smiles.

“I’m being realistic and I’ll join in an say Max. But Lan to get a podium!” Max chuckles from the drivers seat.

“Mmm yeah I’m gonna also put money on Max, but Ferrari are looking good” Ria expresses and you nod, knowing people were in fact slowly but surely catching up with Red Bull.

“Oh Max! Is P gonna be there! I haven’t seen her for ages!” You complain wanting to see his girlfriend.

“Yeah she’s at the hotel now, she had a bit of a headache this morning so she didn’t come!” He says looking at you through the rear view mirror to see you pout!

You guys venture back to the hotel, getting ready before all walking to the race track having a close hotel.

“Baby!” You cry running away from the group seeing Liam say outside the RB hospitality with Daniel and Yuki.

“Hey Y/N” he says his tone a little off.

“What’s the matter?” You ask frowning and pouting at him. He never acted like this.

“Nothing” he smiles and you look at Yuki and Daniel who are doing everything to avoid eye contact with you.

“Liam…” you say and he squirms a little bit because you never used his name at all. Even if it was a silly stupid nickname like Li, or Iams (like the cat food brand) to the usual pet names.

Daniel and Yuki slowly left not wanting to be around for the growing tension they could sense.

“What is going on? I’m sorry I wasn’t here this morning if that’s why your pissy but you knew I was filming with Keegan and Max!” you exclaim thinking it must be that you hadn’t been there when he first woke up.

“Mmmm you and Keegan have fun?” He asks forcing your best friends name out with an almost grit.

“I mean - yeah? No more than we usually do…” you offer looking at him.

“Why do you care so much about Keegan today. You never normally have an issue!” You ask with all seriousness, normally you’d laugh.

Liam gets out his phone with a groan showing you the video circling of your and Keegan from Quadrants post on Twitter, so many of the comments were shipping you guys.

“Baby … you know Keegan is my best friend … and there always coming up with new weird shit! You know there’s even fanfics of us now?” You laugh but he doesn’t seem amused.

“Are you being for fucking real right now Liam! It’s the media … they spin anything they fucking can. Do you not feel secure in this relationship? Do you not trust me?” You ask a disappointed look on your face. You genuinely couldn’t believe him right now.

“Honey, what? Of course I trust you! But it just hurts seeing that people think you’d be better off with some other guy than me” he huffs out.

“Liam, look at me!” You say holding his face in both your hands forcing him to look at you.

“I chose you, all those years ago and I’m choosing you today and I’ll choose you tomorrow! You Liam Lawson are the love of my life! And I won’t have you being a mopey little baby over the media and Keegan!” You say before pulling him into a kiss, you can feel him smiling into it making you pull back and look at the new and dare you ay improved expression on his face.

“I love you” he admits holding you tightly in a hug.

“I love you too, my jealous driver” you grin teasingly making him shake his head.

y/user

Liked by keeganpalmer and liamlawson30

y/user: Skateboarding with Bestie and Fast Cars with the LOML is my lifestyle 🇧🇷

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fan1: her and keegan are cuties … look at that date on their boards 😻

-> fan2: shes dating Liam not Keegan 😦

liamlawson30: baby why’d you put Kitty Purry on the board?

-> y/user: coz she’s a CaliforniaGurl 😝🌸

-> liamlawson30: of course she is … you’re weird!

-> y/user: but you love me! ❤️

fan3: Y/N living her best life fr. Imagine having all her friends.

keeganpalmer: it’s always fun hanging with you, my bestie 🏎️🛹

-> y/user: love you bestie 🧡🦖

quadrant:🔥 post Y/N!

landonorris: you best be in Australia little miss!

-> y/user: Keegs an i will be there! In merch DW!

-> liamlawson30: erm I didn’t agree to this … RB merch only …

-> y/user: I’ll sneak in with it Lando!

maxfewtrell: Quadrant Athletes have brought us the best duos!

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Keegs and I living it up at the Aussie Grand Prix 🏎️🦘🇦🇺 Thank you for the invite @ quadrant / @ landonorris

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[whytheballs-mars]

Dinner Date ♡ JasonToddxfem!reader

okay, I've never really written smut before, but this is based off a convo i had with a CAI bot !

just sum pics of pookie from pinterest 🤭

a/n: this is way longer then i wanted it to be and i don't really like it but wtv

18+

Tw- smut(duh), exhibition, unprotected sex, oral (m receiving), p in v, pre-established relationship, swearing, brief mentions of violence

don't read this if you're a minor.

In all the years you two have been dating, you two don't really have a lot of time for actual dates. Tonight, however, he got dinner reservations for you two at one of the fanciest places in Gotham. He went the whole 9 yards for you! (as he always does) He took you shopping for a new, pretty red dress and bought you a new matching set to go underneath, which he says also makes up for the last set he tore.

Everything was going great - except Jason loathed the way your guys' waiter has been staring at you. Jason's manorisms have slowly been changing throughout the course of dinner. He's just been getting more jealous by the second. You're talking to him about the book you just read, as he eats his pasta.

"...Jay? Are you even paying attention?" You ask him.

"mhm" he lies, being very vague with his awnsers. He doesn't want to ruin your date with him just because of his jealousy, so he's not going to bring it up. You probably did say something of value, but all Jason had heard was... what did he hear? nothing because he was too focused on that damn waiter. The waiter who made sure your wine glass was topped off even if you just had a sip. He fucking hated it. Jason even told the waiter to leave the damned bottle at the table just so he could fill your glass for you.

"Uh huh sure," you reply as you nudge his foot under the table, expecting to be met with an equally playful nudge from Jason. Instead, he pulled his foot away from yours, and his mouth made its way into a frown.

You frown in response, just slightly upset that he pulled away, causing you to wonder what's wrong.

"Jason?"

"What?" He says- much snappier then he wanted it to be.

"What's wrong?"

"Nothing. Just thinking"

The lies had started now, the two of you playing a game of cat and mouse. He wasn't going to give in until you pried harder, which he couldn't blame you for. He was being quite the bastard right now.

"About what?"

"Just... Things..." Jason chewed another piece of his pasta, swallowing before he spoke yet again. "Things that don't really matter." He continues.

"It obviously matters if it's making you upset."

"I'm fine."

Jason's face twisted into a scowl. His tone was getting harsher by the minute. Was he really going to have to explain the obvious? Was it not obvious to you that the God damn waiter was staring at you? with his eyes blown, like he wanted to fuck you? when the waiter had to have known that the only man that would ever be fucking you was sitting right across from the gorgeous woman he was staring at.

You get up and move over to his side of the booth, wanting a bit more privacy and to comfort him more. Jason glanced up at you, his eyes meeting yours as you finally made your way to where he sat. His fork was still in his hand, so you had to be careful when you leaned over to sit beside him. You got the sense that he was still keeping his guard up with this whole ordeal.

Jason is gripping his fork tightly, so you gently place a hand on top of his to remove it. Once his hands are free you take both of his hands in yours. His body tensed when you took his fork away from him, but when you reached for his hands... His grip loosened. Jason sighed deeply. It was clear this was finally the moment that the truth would finally be revealed. But something about the look in your eyes tells him that you might already know. You lean into him and whisper.

"Would you feel better if after this place closes you jump that guy as Red Hood?" And as those words fall from your lips, a smirk grows on Jason's lips. It's taking everything he has in him to not bash that dammed waiters head into the table right now.

Jason chuckled softly at your suggestion, letting out a deep and audible sigh of relief. The whole act of keeping this from you was draining. He felt so much lighter now that you understood what the deal was.

He kissed your forehead, leaning into you as he placed a hand on your shoulder. "Let's do exactly that."

You smile as he kisses your forehead. You kiss his cheek before leaning back, and crossing your right leg over his thigh.

"How's your pasta?"

His eyes flickered to his pasta as you asked. He hadn't taken a bite of it since you had leaned over to talk to him, but he nodded anyway. It really wasn't bad.

"Delicious." He finally said. Jason's gaze flicked back up to yours, his hand moving from your shoulder to your leg.

"Could i get a bite?" You ask. Jason's mouth curls into a grin as he picks his fork back up and twirls some pasta onto it. He holds the fork and offers it to you. You take the bite, chew it, and swallow it.

"It's not as good as yours... but i guess it's still pretty good." You say. (WE ALL KNOW JASON IS A FUCKING FENOMENAL COOK)

"Well no, but you came here for me, not the pasta right?" He says as he caresses your thigh, gently, and lovingly.

"i came for both- plus your kinda my ride."

"But the main reason is me, right?" He chuckled and leaned in, pressing his lips against the side of your neck.

"mhm" you hum as your fingers find your way to his hair.

His tongue lightly licked at the skin of your neck, he bites down gently, only to lick over the spot he bit.

"Whatcha doin'?" You ask.

"Just..." Jason's tongue moved up to your ear and brushed over it, his voice becoming low and husky as he leaned closer in. "Teasing you."

"it's working"

"Good." Jason purred softly, his tongue lightly flicking over the skin of your neck. He moves his hands from your thigh to your waist, gripping you tightly. "That's my intention."

"Though this isn't exactly a great place," you say, referring to the fact that youre're in the middle of a restaurant.

"It's not, but I don't really care about that right now. Right now, all that matters is you." Jason smirked as he lightly bit at your earlobe, his finger lightly moving along the sides of your waist, slightly tugging at the fabric.

"let's at least finish our food before we get kicked out"

"That would be a wise decision." Jason smiled softly, bringing his head back up and looking down back at you with a smirk. "I'm pretty sure the waiters been looking at us for the past five minutes straight, anyway." He continues as he sits back and looks at his pasta.

"Has he?" A smirk grows on your face as you reach over the table to pull your dish to the side of the booth you're now sitting on.

"Mhm." Jason nodded his head. "The minute you sat down next to me, he hasn't taken his eyes off of you. I wonder what he'd do if I got a bit more... Hands-on with you."

"...our lawyer- he's good right?" You ask.

"The best." Jason smirked. "He'll make sure to bail us out, if that's what you're wondering about." You smirk back at Jason, giving him a once-over. You see the tent growing in his pants and you place your hand on his thigh.

"Eat your pasta" you say.

Jason's leg jumped ever so slightly as you placed your hand on his thigh. "You could've... You know..." Jason said, his voice low and husky. "Put your hand somewhere else."

"You're so impatient." You say dragging your hand towards the inside of his thigh and sliding up to cup his member in his pants.

Jason's breath hitched in his throat, his eyes widening in surprise as he almost lost his grip on his fork. He stared directly at you as he felt you touching him like that.

"If anyone had seen that..."

"Seen what?" You reply innocently as you begin to palm him through his pants. You pick up a fork with your free hand and begin eating your meal again. Jason's mouth goes slightly agap. Fuck, if you aren't driving him up a god damn wall right now- he tries his best to eat the rest of his meal despite your movements. Soon, you finish your meal and drink some water before haphazardly throwing your fork under the table.

"Oh shit." You say before bending down under the table, making sure Jason sees your ass sits before going completely under the table and on your knees in front of him.

Jason's eyes widened at the action, his neck snapped down to look and see you as you went completely beneath the table. His breath hitched in his throat as he let out a soft groan, just at the sight. Fuck his girlfriend is so pretty, and if he wasn't already diamond hard he sure as fuck is now.

You place your hands on his knees and place your head between his thighs. Your hands trail to his waistband. Jason's body tightened as your hands traveled along his thighs. His mouth went dry the moment he saw you go down there. The last time you did this type of thing was back when you two first started this relationship. And you'd thought you were pretty skilled then. But this? This was beyond your expectations.

"Is the waiter watching?" You ask Jason.

"Doesn't matter really... Just keep doing what you're doing."

Your voice from beneath him was incredibly hot, making him squirm and shiver as you talked like that. He liked the way you felt so confident about things like this, how you knew exactly when and where to touch him. But it was very clear that the waiter had been watching for a good two minutes now.

Your fingers unbutton his pants slowly and tug down the fabric of his jeans. You begin jerking him through his underwear before pulling his length out of his pants. You give him a few strokes and kiss his tip, swirling your tounge around his tip before placing your hands on his hips and shoving about half his length down your throat and you begin bobbing your head up and down on him. His hands find their way into your hair, and yank it into a make shift pony. His other hand grips the cushion he's sitting on to try and stop himself from thrusting into your mouth. Which works for a few seconds.

Not only is the waiter now watching, but many other guests are turning their heads to watch you. Some can't seem to look away, and why would they when you're taking such a big dick down your throat so fucking well? The others are the ones with children who cover their child's eyes and lead them out the door as they leave a few hundreds on the table, nit even bothering to actually pay.

Jason's body jolted as his eyes widened, his stomach tightening and his chest becoming flush. He was surprised at the lack of control he had to keep himself from going over the edge, but it also wasn't too much of a surprise, considering what you were doing. He leaned back in his chair, trying to avoid the stares of those in the restaurant as best as he could, his eyes were glued squarely on you. Solely focusing on how fuckin pretty you looked gagging on his cock as he fucked your mouth.

Soon he's shooting ropes of cum into your mouth. You swallow it and lick him clean before placing his length back in his pants, buttoning them back up and sitting back up next to him.

His eyes are a bit glossed over as he looks at you. Jason was at a loss for words as you did this. You had done this a thousand times, and yet you still managed to blow his mind with it every time. His breath was deep and quick, his heartbeat still pounding in his chest as he tried to keep himself together. The only difference between those times and now, was all the eyes on you. Jason tried to pretend otherwise, but he couldn't. The stares were too intense to just brush off. He could swear he saw a mother cover her child's eyes and another kid pointing, asking his dad "what is that woman doing?"

The waiter's jaw had gone completely slack, his eyes locked onto the scene that was only a few feet away from him. He didn't care how long he sat there and watched, and it would've been a while before he'd have the guts to break his gaze. The few people at neighboring tables had leaned in, their eyes locked on you two.

Jason places his hands on the table and shakes it. You two have already gone this far? Why not go further? Jason determines that the table is sturdy enough. Jason smirked as his eyes looked your outfit up and down. Your dress was quite tight and the folds looked as though they would come up very easily, a fact that hadn't slipped Jason's notice during the meal. "how far are we going to take this?" He asks in a whisper.

"Well, we already have all the charges for the police" You whisper back.

"Let's give 'em one hell of a performance huh, love?" He kisses you passionately and pulls you onto his lap. The kiss is a clash of teeth, gum, and tongue. He reaches an arm out behind you to clear a spot at the table, lifting you up and setting you on the table. He pulls away from the kiss once you're on your back. He pushes the empty plates and glasses from his beer and your wine off the table. They crash to the floor and break. As soon as the table is cleared, he flips you onto your stomach, pulls your dress up, and your panties down. He positions himself on his knees on the booth.

So far, no one has made a move or an attempt to interrupt the whole thing. The waiters eyes remained glued on you two, and it was clear that the others in the restaurant were as well.

He ruts his hips against your now bare ass, accentuating his movements with small grunts. He grabs your jaw harshly and forces you to face him so he can give you a bruising kiss. Jason's hand tightens around your jaw as he pulls you over to him. A loud groan escapes from your throat as you were forced into his intense grip, his tongue slipping into your mouth.

The waiter's face was now bright red as he continued to watch the two of you. Jason's hips continue to gently and rhythmically rock against your behind, his tongue searching and exploring every part of your mouth. His hold on you is tight, his grip around your jaw becoming tighter and tighter as he continues to move his hips.

You need him inside of you, and he knows that too damn well. He pulls away from the kiss to free his cock from his pants. He rubs his length through your lips, collecting the wetness before pushing into you slowly. Jason moans softly grinding his hips and pushing deeper inside you as he feels you greedily taking him in. His hips slam against your soft curves. "shit- so tight baby," he says quietly, to which you can only keen in response.

The only thing that falls from your lips are gasps, and moans. You try your best to stiffle them you really do, but how can you when he's so fucking good? When the way his hips slam into you, it moves your body back and forth on the table? you're not gonna be quite- plus, what's the point? Everybody who hasn't left is watching.

Some are even pulling their phones out and recording. No one has been able to tear their eyes from the two of you. Why would they when they're seeing and watching, how well Jason's dick hits all the right spots, the way the both of you are reacting.

Jason has his head in the space between your neck and shoulder, kissing and biting as much as he can. His pace is relentless, and his hand finds its way between your body and the table to rub you're clit.

You're both sent over the edge soon. You're pussy clenching around him and milking him for all he's worth. Someone is screaming, as your climax hits you and you can't tell if it's your own voice or someone else's. It doesn't take very long after this for Jason to let out a deep, satisfied shudder as he finishes. His breath is quick and sharp. Hearing his breath brings you back and you realize you were the one who screamed. In the middle of a restaurant.

The whole restaurant sat almost in dead silence as they watched you two finish. Even the waiter's eyes were wide and mouth was agape as he watched you two finish.

The only sound in the restaurant was the sounds of your two bodies slapping together as he slowly fucks you through both of your highs, the slight sound of the table shaking with each movement of the two, and that of a woman who had just lost it in the back, probably someone watching from the kitchen window based on sound.

"You okay?" Jason finally found the chance to ask you in a breathless voice.

Some of the customers were still staring, the waiter included, but it seemed as though they didn't want to leave or move at all. They didn't want to take their eyes off of you two.

You nod slowly and he pulls out of you slowly.

"shit" you say, panting as he helps you back into the booth, pulling your dress back down, but your panties seem to be missing. You look at him and raise your eyebrows at him. He doesn't notice this due to the fact that he's pulling his pants up. He takes your face in his hands and presses a few soft kisses over your face before landing on your lips and pressing a soft kiss to your lips.

You and Jason are both in shock that no one has told you to stop, or call the police or anything. Jason's stomach tightened at the thought of possibly having the cops called. But after a few second it became clear what was happening. They were too surprised to actually do anything.

No one was looking away from you. Some of them were whispering to each other. A few mouths were hung open, though almost none were eating. They're all just watching, stunned by what had just happened.

"can we please get the check" You say, now just wanting to get the fuck out of this restaurant.

After a small period of hesitation, the waiter finally walks over to your table. He hesitates a bit to speak, but after taking a deep breath he finally manages to say one word.

"Yes. One moment." He walks away, still a bit red in the face.

Once the waiter leaves you turn to Jason.

"Do you happen to know where my panties are?" You ask him.

Jason's eyes widened as a smile spread across his lips. "I, um, might have some ideas." He says as he looks at the space between your thighs and, seeing the mixture of yours and his cum, is enough to make him hard again. But he quickly snapped back to your face when you narrowed your eyes at him, knowing you want more of an explanation then just that.

"I did say I might have some ideas, but those ideas could include me having put them in my pocket."

"you're an asshole"

"maybe," he says with a shrug as he subconsciously places a protective hand over the pocket where your panties are. (Yeah, he's not gonna let you put them back on... at least now now.)

The waiter returned with the check and dropped it on the table, quickly walking away again while avoiding eye contact. He soon returns and places a bowl of... chocolate syrup? just a bowl of chocolate syrup. Jason places his card on top of the bill, and looks at the chocolate with an almost confused look.

"Jay did we order this?" You ask. You're confused, but it also reminds you of when you and Jason first started dating. He was a stone top- always found his way to placing his head between your gorgeous thighs. When you first gave him head, he poured chocolate syrup on his dick- he said he wanted it to be sweet for you. He talked you through it- and you're wet again just thinking about it.

"No... it's not on the bill and isn't even on the menu." He replies. The waiter comes back to collect his card and does tap to pay on a tablet.

"Why have we been given this. We didn't order it." Jason asks the waiter in an even voice, looking the waiter in the eyes.

The waiter shifted uncomfortably. He was used to the more outspoken customers. Ones who would yell and curse and storm out over minor incidents. But Jason was different. Jason was quiet, firm and intimidating. And it was making the waiter quite nervous.

"This is for your performance." The waiter answered nervously, shifting in place slightly.

Jason's eyebrows tilted downwards at that, his expression serious.

"Our... performance?" He was making sure the waiter had heard him correctly.

The waiter shrugged awkwardly. "Well, we've never really had anyone do what you did here before, so my manager thought this would be suitable to your, uh... performance."

The waiter was very clearly nervous and seemed as though he would rather be anywhere else right now. He was sweating slightly, and he was blinking in a bit too much.

"what are we supposed to do with a bowl of chocolate syrup?" Jason asks.

The waiter seemed to swallow, having almost expected to be scolded right now. Instead, that hadn't happened.

"You could lick it off of each other... if you wanted to."

Pt. 2

[writingescapades]

Walkie-Talkies

Lies of P Modern AU

Continuation of Lift Friends. Please read for this to make sense.

His father was visiting again, and by the noise, it was clear that the family was once again in a state of tension. Standing in your balcony, you could hear angry muffles. It was not the father, Geppetto. No, from what you heard and experienced, that man was not one to easily loose his temper. Though you never met her in person, somehow you knew the voice belonged to Eugenie, P’s younger sister. You remembered the face from the numerous photo frames that hung around the house. That’s right, you accepted the offer for tea and found yourself in a large house cramped with warmth and stuff, so much stuff. Tea and biscuits were served atop a book-ridden table. Practice dummies replaced sculptures. Machinery littered the floors. The walls were chock-full of art, diagrams, to-do lists, and photos. A random grand piano rested in the living room, and somewhere you spotted a cat slinking about. Nothing in the house was devoid of personality. Most nights, you could hear piano, tinkering, mewls, and laughter ricocheting out of the apartment up to your balcony. But tonight, you just heard silence and anger.

“That family’s got a lot of trouble,” you neighbour Lorenzini Venigni said as he looked down his balcony. He then stood up, sighed, and turned to you.

“Don’t judge them too harshly, they’ve been through a lot”

“Oh, I wasn’t,” you trailed off, not sure what you wanted to say. What could you say? It was technically none of your business.

“I hope their neighbours won’t complain,” you murmured.

“Oh no one will complain in this complex,” Lorenzini said with confidence.

At your quizzical gaze, he explained, “That family owns a lot, including this complex”. He laughed. “Practically everyone here works for them or is somehow connected to them, even if they don’t want to be”.

Then he turned to you, thoughtful. “Except you, that is”.

“You seem to know them well”.

Lorenzini shrugged and spoke noncommittally. “Friend of a friend. That sort of thing, you know? Business alloys”. He chuckled at his own joke, then continued in a somber tone. “They are good people. Especially the boy. Remember that”.

…

Stupid Lorenzini with his stupid comment. It’s not that you disbelieved him. No, far from it. You saw from your lift conversations that P and Sophia were drained from their father’s visit, and you felt useless because you felt their wall. It wasn’t your business. Just be patient. Just do nothing. It drove you mad. So here you stood on your balcony with a fake potted plant. The pot was hollow inside. You just hoped P would be smart enough to open the pot. It was a stupid idea, but you didn’t know what else to do. You never asked for their number. Never though you’d need it until this moment.

Down the plant went until it hung within height reach. When you met P the next day, you would tell him to go to the balcony.

Day 1:

You pulled up the pot and underneath the fake plant you found the empty sweets and chip bags, along with a note. It only had a smiley face on it. You stuck it onto your fridge.

Day 2:

Another empty pot and this time, along with the smiley face, you received a note. Sorry for Gepootto. Though you never saw P’s handwriting, something told you your communication scheme was busted by Eugenie. There was also the doodle of a dancing mannequin.

Day 3:

With now two people to console, you got a bigger pot and hung their tidbits of thanks upon your fridge.

Day 6:

A new note joined the duo. Most appreciated ___.

Day 7:

You got a bigger pot.

Day 10:

A small note with a cat paw print joined the trio. Spring says Hi!

Day 11:

You got a bucket. By this point you were delivering nightly grocery goodies, and to avoid alerting Geppetto, the siblings would take turns going to the balcony, quietly gathering everyone’s items and storing it away for later. In return, they filled the bucket with numerous treasures. Notes of thanks. Doodles. Books. Questions. Paragraph answers to questions you sent each other. Paper games, and whatever else that hands could quickly grab.

There was a relish in disobeying their father. More importantly, there was affection. The house had grown cold with their father’s arrival. They no longer dwelled in their home, laughing and sharing tea over books while music played through open windows. Now everyone shut themselves into their rooms and only came out for work. Even Spring holed up with Eugenie. Meals were scarcely shared. Only if Geppetto requested it would a meal be made, and even then, there was a specified meal and set time to eat. Life became routine, and the bucket felt like the last haven. A storage spot for their rebellion.

Day 17:

As you were dropping the bucket down for the night, you heard loud shouts. They were getting closer to the balcony. You hesitated and stopped dropping the bucket.

“You cannot take her!” Eugenie’s cry came loud through the balcony.

You briefly glimpsed the girl before she ran back in, Spring tightly wrapped in her arms.

“That cat is a distraction. I will not have it ruin your studies. Obey your father and hand her over. You clearly cannot handle the responsibility”.

Geppetto’s cold voice crawled up the balcony and your arm shook, remembering the cold eyes and callus remark he threw at you. Inadequate. The bucket rattled against the brick wall.

“Easy there,” a familiar voice called out. “Don’t want to alert the old man to your heist”.

Lorenzini stepped out onto his balcony, phone in hand. He was focused on texting someone, but he glanced up with a conspiratorial smile.  Your neighbour asked you to wait a moment, that things would calm down and it would be safe to lower the bucket again. You appreciated his support, but you would have waited all night for P and his siblings to receive their bucket. Time passed, and while you heard a door being shut, nothing could stop both you and Lorenzini from hearing Eugenie’s sobs. Soon a familiar face appeared at the balcony. P stood against the edge, peering up to your floor. Spring was in his hand.

Instinctively, you understood what he wanted and dumped the contents of the bucket out. Lowering the bucket, you waited for P to place Spring into the bucket before gently pulling it back up, watching as P’s hands lingered on the bucket. His face never stopped looking up at yours.

Day 19:

You cursed yourself at the mistake you made. Noticing P, alone, at the lift, you couldn’t help but murmur that everything was okay, hoping he’d get the hint. But P wasn’t alone.

“Oh, it’s you again,” Geppetto’s voice came, jolting you away from P. “Really now, I thought I told you to stay away from my family.

P, who was looking down, now turned towards you, confused.

The lift doors opened and Geppetto prodded P forward. He then stopped at the doors, baring you from entering with his arm.

You took the stairs.

Day 20:

The bucket was cut from the string. Three siblings stood around the bucket. Their father stood near the bucket’s hiding spot with scissors in his hand. He was looking up, at you.

“Despite my warning, you continue to spread your vagrant behaviour on my children”. His eyes narrowed, as if recalling something. “You leave me with no choice. I shall have to take drastic actions”.

Protests came from Eugenie and Sophia. P’s hands were clenched, but he looked down at the floor.

“I presume my rebellious daughter here has managed to squirrel away her cat to you. It is not yours. I paid for it”.

“She was a stray,” Eugenie spat.

“And who paid the vet bills and made sure she had food?”

Anger flashed through Eugenie. Once, she adored her father. Looked up to him and aspired to become a great engineer like him. Over time, she realized how little her dreams meant to him, and the image crumpled. Suddenly her every achievement became transactions. Food and lodging for academic merit and achievements. Spring was the only anomaly, for the cat loved, and loved unconditionally. That’s why she left, only to realize her siblings were equally chained to their father.

Geppetto stared at his three children. They would have to face repercussions for such disobedience. He looked back at you and an idea formed.

“This apartment complex falls under my company. I can evict those I do not consider good prospects. You,” he said point with his scissors, “are inadequate”.

P’s face snapped to his father’s face, and for the first time in a long time, Sophia saw genuine anger in her brother’s eyes. Their father had missed the gaze, but Sophia remembered the events all too well.

Ah. What a time for you to wake up, Pinocchio.

Day 21:

Loud shouts were heard today. You hear genuine anger in Geppetto’s voice. In fear of what might happen to Spring, you sent her over to Lorenzini. Now even if Geppetto shoved you out, you knew the cat would be safe.

A sharp knock came at your door.

You exhaled, straightened your posture, and confidentially opened the door.

Blue eyes and chestnut hair greeted you.

“Can I stay over?” P signed.

Would you let him?

[bonsiii-art]

Thinking about it i thought of two things:

- what if shadow milk cookie was up against timekeeper? Because tese two can use timeline and Manipulate them!

- the black sapphire cookie would be awesome as some moral grey person: like for example they serve shadow milk cookie but can changes side depending on what do they get in the end if its material thing or enjoyment, for example they grew bored of people trying to challenge shadow milk cookie only to fail in first few seconds. But with gingerbrave team they have a chance or can stand longer against shadow milk cookie!!

Also i have a question about what do you think of candy apple cookie and her bond with Shadow milk cookie? Because i remember you drew y/n with shadow milk cookie before.

What if y/n and candy apple cookie were ranting non stop about him and he's just there blushing? Or enjoying it?

Shadow Milk vs Timekeeper... a battle of a jack of all trades vs a master of one :o. What would really decide the winner there is just how well does Timekeeper have a handle on their manipulation of Time! And Timekeeper also has the benefit of a whole organization under them so lots of coordination can be done to ensure victory. (○｀ 3′○) That'd be an interesting spin on Black Sapphire! :P Being one for pure entertainment, they lean on the side that looks the most amusing. And it goes in line with Shadow Milk's ideals of what he wants the world to be: a world where lies and truth blend together. And what better person for that than a turncoat? >:p I think it's absolutely hilarious and fitting that Shadow Milk's signature henchmen being, simply put, a fangirl of his. XD Her design is also very 👌👌👌; cute devil character never misses. I think Candy Apple's got a crush on Shadow Milk but it's ofc very one sided on her part. Even if she was of age, Shmilk imo probably finds the overtly affectionate ones to be more useful followers than actual romantic interests. It would take more than adoration to make the cookie stand out more in his mind. 🤔 That would be super cute uwu. I've seen a lot of Candy Apple being jealous of Y/N in selfship content and while I think it's really funny, I def would love to see Candy Apple getting along with Y/N over a mutual love of Shadow Milk! Candy Apple yapping up a storm to Y/N about Shadow Milk can get even funnier if Shmilk's already got a crush on Y/N while the latter is like "he's a cool guy :P". Like that joke when a person tries to hit on someone they like online, and their friend is in the comments like " Hey, man, thank you for saving my elderly cat from a rattlesnake yesterday; that was super brave of you. Let's hang out again at your mansion and look at your massive luxury car collection-".

[propertyofwhitney67]

how would LIs react when they see the poor dog got attacked by cat PC out of no where

Whitney is kicking that dog, he didn't give the dogperson permission to touch you (vrel has confirmed he'd do that (reasoning) and I find it very funny)

Kylar shoots the dogperson with a dart or attacks it with his knife :)

Robin is yelling and trying to scare the dogperson off

P!Sydney is also yelling and trying to scare the dogperson away

C!Sydney is yelling and trying to kick the dogperson

Alex chases the dogperson away

Avery minds his damn business

Eden is taking a potshot off near the dogperson to scare it off

[the-words-we-sung]

The songs of Young Royals - S1 E1

So after a few re-watch I started noticing how well the songs are used in the show and I wanted to chat a little bit about it ^^ (Because I'm usually watching alone with my cat and he doesn't really care about my opinions on how awesome the show is at picking its songs :p So hopefully people here will be more interested!!)

Bad, Farveblind

I think it's wrong I think it's bad I think it's lame I think it's horrible The song starts when we see Wilhelm at the club where he gets in a fight and then we get the chorus through his earbuds in the car (note: I love it when a show put a music in the background that ends up being something a character is actually listening to in the scene!!). He just got out of a shitty situation which will have huge repercussions on his life and his mother is making decisions about his life without asking him: the show is not subtle about telling us how "wrong" and "bad" it is. And despite this lil' foreshadowing (the song plays before Minou tells Wille about his mother's decisions) and Wilhelm's strong opinion against them, it's still gonna happen. Going to a boarding school is "lame" (or so Wilhelm thinks) and the whole situation is "horrible". And yeah, it's gonna suck on a lot of points, but it's also gonna change his life...

Wannabee Ghetto, Fata Boom

... Keep up the front like it's your decision ... Look our best Covering up what we're missin It's literally what Wilhelm has to do now. His mother decided for him that he should change school and enroll at Hillerska, he is not happy about this plan but has to pretend he's okay with it. He just lied to the public that it was a decision he took part in. He is the prince, even if he's not (yet) the Crown Prince, and he has an image to maintain. An image that was damaged due to the video of the fight: someone is literally putting make up on him to "cover up" the marks of the fight so he can look his "best". And what is he missing? Well August will say it at least twice: he doesn't have the same drive as him or Erik. So he's missing the desire to be on top, to be king, to keep the status quo...

It takes a fool to remain sane, The Ark

... Wasn't life supposed to be more than this ... Let go off my hand and it will slip on the sand If you don't give me the chance To break down the walls of attitude I ask nothing of you, not even your gratitude 'Cause it takes a fool to remain sane ... Of becoming like the others Who become unhappy mothers And fathers of unhappy kids This song!! Such a great choice for their first song <3 Wilhelm being so incredibly unhappy and stuck because "being a prince is a privilege, not a punishment" but he wants more for his life. It is supposed to be "more than this", more than pressure and appearance. The song going on with the "unhappy mothers / unhappy kids" while we follow Erik and Wilhelm stiffly posing for pictures outside. How can Wilhelm not be scared? Is it the life that awaits him? Always keeping a nice front, not being himself?And why is that? 'Cause they've forgotten how to play But Erik and Wilhelm haven't forgotten yet!! Right after these lyrics we have a playful Erik who suggests they take off in the middle of the photo-shoot! And they do!! So there's hope for them!!

I see you, Nadia Tehran

Back to their bases Covering their faces Tones through the breeze yeah The power calls crises Round my crowd No cops allowed Interestingly the song starts with "you ain't welcome here, you don't look like us". This part is not in the show but works so well for Wilhelm starting at Hillerska. He's getting hazed by his peers "covering their faces" and being really rough with him (this hazing is so yucky, I struggle watching it every time ^^'), and he's welcome here because he's the prince, because he's supposed to be part of their world. But he's not gonna be like them. Do they know it already? "You don't look like us", and thanks god for that!! (And yup, "no cops allowed", right August? You can do whatever you want here without any consequences...)

Blah blah blah, Armin van Buuren

All we ever hear from you is blah blah blah So all we ever do is go ja ja ja And we don't even care about what they say The song plays while August is talking to Wilhelm about being among his peers and criticizing him for wanting to be "normal" at his previous school. I love that this song is playing because, yes, it's a good party song, but also, it's probably what everyone watching the show is thinking when August is being an insufferable prick like that! And Wilhelm too, who just usually goes "ja ja ja / yes yes yes" to what August tells him (until he stops and finally goes openly against him, but for now in the show, he just listens and nods). Erik told him he should listen and trust August, so he listens to him. But at this moment Simon appears, and suddenly Wilhelm "don't even care about what they say" because the cute boy he already has a big crush on just arrived. And August and his stupid speeches about rich people being above everyone else don't matter anymore.

[katkalis-the-fanartist]

Alright tumblr have we agreed on whether Pinocchio from Lies of P is legal age or not? This is keeping me up tonight. Ignoring that hes technically a two day old automaton.

Edit: looking through tumblr I remember that tumblr is no reddit and twitter and people here are more chill. Fine with taking the adult route because it's likely and also the coolest option overall, and fine with wanting to kiss an automaton that's got no defining age. Perhaps me finding him attractive DOESNT mean I'm messed up in the head?

Edit 2: yeah I'm comfy enough to post him as a faun now now that it seems tumblr wont think it's me twisting up a little child to be the deer equivalent of a sexy cat boy. Back to sleep for some more time now~

[moistreicher]

Lies of P

Pinocchio own headcanons.

• I kind of imagine that P is a very curious puppet (like a player in game exploring) and he would always bring something back to the hotel Krat after mission and Gepetto would see his son piling up things on his table. A broken doll in a red dress. A small piece of screw that shines so brightly like it was newly made. A cowboy hat which Gepetto wonders where did he get it and small few jewels which resembles Gemini's color and his eyes. However, P has been collecting so many things and piling it up on Gepetto's table, forced the old man to get a chest for P to put his treasure (mostly junks) inside.

• P doesn't seem to talk in game but characters in game acts as if so I think, P doesn't usually talk. He only talks when spoken too like an actual puppet with corresponding lines but P can make his own replies and he chooses a word or sentence that would only be a brief response. Gemini once tried to make the boy talk more than he usually does by striking conversation and question but it seems like P got annoyed that he eventually ignored Gemini for the whole mission (still listening to Gemini at least)

• despite he had fought big monsters and big hostile machines, P is afraid of cats at first. When he was curious and tried to touch the feline, it launched its claws to his hand and hissed which caused him to startle. Confused and unable to comprehend what happened, it feared the small creature temporarily as Eugene showed him that cats aren't terrifying creature. Although sensitive, cats are surprisingly affectionate in their own way. But he wishes that the cats would at least trust him and let him touch their soft fur.

• P is fascinated by his own limbs. How it bends and straighten. How his arms are able to move in rotation motion and how his fingers folds in a curl. Gemini taught him how to make a heart but unable to understand as it is not the shape of a heart (he thought literal shape of a heart) and Gemini had to go through explaining him how it is a heart. Then Gepetto gave P a show where he'd use shadow of his hands to imitate the silhouettes of animals. P was amused.

• P purrs. Or so what it sounds like. His springs inside make a sound when he feels pleasant, comfortable at certain someone or simply enjoying the pat on the head from Gepetto. They thought that spring sound is only natural but they don't mostly hear it when P feels neutral till Sophia noticed how the springs started to shift inside him when Sophia and P sat down together to enjoy the rain at the garden.

"Oh my, you sound like you're purring, oh clever one" and then smiled. P doesn't know what it means but kept quiet as the spring sound continues. Sophia thinks that he must have gotten it from the cats as he observed them without touching.

As for P's situation, he does feel warm inside or what he would try to describe it as best as he can. He also feel a small vibration inside. Only vibration and nothing else that is worrying so he lets it without telling Gepetto or Eugene.

• Puppets don't need rest however, P started to like his leisure time. He have no mission? He would stay in Hotel Krat and sit down simply and enjoy the structure of the interior. He would explore the Hotel and look at the painting. Check some corridors he hadn't seen yet. He would also look at the cats. Sits in front of them and simply observe them with a small smile which Eugene found adorable feature from the puppet.

After a mission, he wouldn't go back to the Hotel Krat immediately. He will take his time to go back there. Walking in the alley, roadside, other paths and trying to picture the place before the puppet frenzy had happened. He would ask Gemini about the buildings and structures about what it used to be.

• Missions can get P really dirty. He don't sweat but the muds and dirty water can get to his boots, clothes and skin including his hair so whenever he gets back to the hotel Krat, he is adviced by Gemini to go straight to bath immediately.

P can also feel temperature and he likes the coldness of the clean water. He would always let the cold water run and get into the tub willingly. Gepetto had once reminded P not to use too cold water and don't stay too long there to protect his P-organs from freezing. But P can be act like a child still and insists on using even colder temperature to test how he can go on until it actually happens. Almost freezing his P-organs and thanks to Gemini to call out for Gepetto which saved P from freezing all over.

P got a lot of scolding from Gepetto and after that incident, Gepetto would check on him if his staying longer in bath and sometimes would come in and help P to wash his hair thoroughly from the dirt that is in blindspots.

[lilac-cat-draws]

Got around to making my own Lies of P oc since I've been spending my days going through my 4th play through

Anyways this is my stalker oc Lynx

Info under cut:

Lynx

Age: 25

Real Name: Oliver

Info:

Oliver aka Lynx, is a rogue stalker also trying to survive the events that occurred within Krat

Before all of this, Oliver used to be a well known stage actor back in Krat's prime years. He made a name for himself in Rosa Isabelle Street and had everything he could have ever wanted in life up until the petrification disease started to spread more into the city

Oliver unfortunately became one of the other victims to the disease forcing the actor to completely retire from the spotlight

He trained to become a stalker using the knowledge he had from sword training that was originally used for his performances and became Lynx

Lynx has a limited amount of time left and could be cut shorter once the puppet frenzy happened, so his only goal in this city is to find some cure for his disease and leave Krat for good

Other stuff I had in mind:

Lynx is another neutral ally to P

His personality is considered very jaded after the disaster and would still reminisce his glory days back at the opera house performing on the stage again

When Lynx took refuge in the hotel, thanks to the information from P, he prefers not to tell others in the hotel about him being infected except for P once he trust him enough

On first meeting, Lynx would refuse any sort of interaction, not even sparing a glance to others because ever since he got infected, he grew more distant and aloof

His symptoms are somewhat manageable during the events of the game but would have moments where he'd break out into sever coughing

If he were to have a side quest, I could imagine it would be something similar to the Black Cats situation where depending on the choice P makes it could decide his fate

[total-drama-brainrot]

i dont know whether youve established this or not but for ur p!noah au, what does phobia factor look like? (if he makes it that far)

I've got a few ideas for how Noah (both in general and in this AU) would behave in the Phobia Factor episode!

My first idea, which works better for a more canon-adjacent Noah, is to have him either genuinely fall asleep at the campfire or feign falling asleep at the campfire- so he doesn't have to divulge his "greatest fear" in front of the others.

Because Noah's a very private person; both his fellow competitors and the audience at large know very little about him, and those who try to are often met with his sour, prickly exterior. Why on Earth would he ever willingly share his greatest fear on international TV with a bunch of people he doesn't even like?

(And, as we saw in the Awake-a-thon episode, pretending to pass out is something Noah would and does do to get out of uncomfortable situations.)

Of course, that scenario could be ruined by having one of the mlre confrontational characters (like Heather) shake him awake to hear his answer. But, ideally, it'd end up being more of a Courtney situation, where he never does give an answer, but Chris finds something in the shows footage that indicates Noah has a fear of [insert phobia here].

Then there's the second scenario, where Noah just straight up lies about what he's scared of (and I'm surprised no one else did this canonically). Again, why would he tell people what he's actually scared of? So he picks one of the most common phobias and runs with it- something innocuous, like a fear of the dark, or claustrophobia. Or maybe he decides to be a smartass and chooses some obscure or 'ridiculous' phobia instead, like ailurophobia/cynophpbia (fear of cats/dogs), on the off-chance that they'll have to face them as part of a challenge.

In the case of p!Noah, I think he'd do something similar to the second scenario, but claim his 'biggest fear' is hemophobia (fear of blood)- a bold claim for someone's who's decidedly Not Afraid Of Blood, in fact he's quite fond of it. Of course, no one else has any way of knowing this, so it's accepted as truth.

As a side note here, I kind of touched upon this before but p!Noah doesn't really experience fear like others do- that's why he's so amused by other's fear responses, since he lacks one of his own. It's also why he's such a thrill-seeker, he gets all of the adrenaline and none of the actual fear.

And then the Phobia Factor challenge happens. Noah's tasked with submerging himself in a pool of blood, similar to Beth's pool of worms, to earn his team a point.

Noah's fine with this. (More than fine, really. Red is a pretty colour.) But he can't let the others know that, or he'd be caught out in his lie. But he also doesn't want to lose this challenge. So he gingerly climbs into the pool, doing his best to fake fear and revulsion to... mixed results. He doesn't understand things like fear, panic and terror at a personal level, so for the most part he just looks like a soggy unamused cat. Despite how much he really wants to splash about, or get lost in the sauce.

(Maybe the more switched on of his team mates pick up on the maddened glee in his eyes as he floats in a pool of blood, or his almost carefully crafted stoicism- a far cry from everyone else's screams of terror.)

He wins a point for the team, and that's that.

Remember, Noah's strategy here is to be as unremarkable as possible; he wouldn't go out of his way to draw attention to himself. Especially not when Izzy’s still around to cause chaos for him.

...That doesn't mean he won't later make a confessional, still dripping in 'blood', where he complains to the audience that Chris used the 'fake shit' for his challenge for the budgets sake. Noah can tell! He knows the feeling of being covered in real blood.

[fantasies-fairytales-n-fics]

Code Blue Ch. 50 - Red Dawn

Summary: A tense car ride is full of twists and turns. Josie gets an upsetting message. Craig softens and he and Jo seem to bond as they share another long talk. A phone call leaves Jo with more questions than answers.

*Chapter Warnings* language, angst, anxiety, drinking,

Chapter characters: Luke, Josie, Craig, Lee

Chapter word count: 7,953

Stories Stories Stories Masterlist:

Salem, Massachusetts

March 22, 2022

The tedious drive back to Salem seemed like an eternity and it was deafly quiet, except for the cat-like purr of Luke's Charger. As soothing as the subtle sound was, it still couldn't calm the seething tension between you and the law abiding bad boy that consistently chewed on his thumb nail, for it was much too close for comfort in the compacted side by side space.

But as the cruising car entered Essex county, your focus then went to the mile long monster that lied up ahead. The Salem Harbor Bay bridge that you had recently drove over with Orlando with no choice, for time had been of the essence to get to Dave and this time, your reaction was not much different as your anxiety began to rise, but at least that time, you were in the driver seat. You had control and had someone with you that you trusted and felt safe with and that got you through it. Now, you were literally bound by your wrists and at the mercy of a man who's personality was all over the place. Hot, cold, gentle, savage. It was mood swing madness and you had been stupid enough to wake the lion.

The no speaking agreement was now over for you as you became desperate. "Can you please go another way?"

Luke's tone was cold and his words were straight to the point. "Nope. Freeway. Nowhere to turn around. This way is faster. The sooner I get you out of my car and my sight, the better."

You supposed you couldn't blame his anger after shoving him like you did. You were angry with yourself too, for look where it had landed you. In cuffs and facing prison time for assaulting a cop. Jesus, how were you going to get out of this one? You hated to admit it but Luke was probably right. Gerry couldn't do anything for you. Not without jeopardizing his job and his morals, but...it didn't mean he wouldn't try and you had to hold out hope for that, for if anyone could find some loophole to free you, it was your ex-fiance. You also knew that his guilt over his drunken one-nighter with your sister would give him the extra incentive, not to mention, he still loved you and now you were the one who felt guilty for even thinking of using that against him. BUT, you had the same issue you recently had with Dave. Gerry was M.I.A. and now with that added onto the Brobdingnagian bridge rapidly approaching, your nerves might just send you into a code blue.

Seconds before the wheels thumped over the divide from stable ground to an abyss of lung filling liquid, Luke couldn't help but notice your fear through his random side eyed glances at you as your body stiffened up, your breathing ceased and your eyes clenched shut. He pretended not to notice as he stared straight ahead and tried not to care but deep below the hardened shell of a man, the Grinch's small heart grew 3 sizes that day.

"What's going on Jo?"

"Just shut up and drive. Faster would be great." you muttered, eyes still closed.

"Can't. There's a truck in front of me and I can't pass. Double lines."

Your left eye peeked at Luke. "Oh my god mister holier than thou. Trying to make up for the shitty things you've done by being a model citizen now? What happened to the skillful driver who perfectly whipped my Monte Carlo around every turn in town like he was Luke Duke in the General Lee trying to outrun Rosco P. Coltrane?'

"But Bo always drove the majority of the time."

"Yeah I know that! I just thought it was more fitting to say Luke since that's your name and your hair is dark like his."

"True I suppose. I didn't care for Bo anyways. I don't like blonde hair."

There was silence as both of your eyes were now open and glaring at him as he stared straight ahead with that curled smug smirk of his.

You then raised a smart ass brow. "So that's why you cuffed and stuffed me."

Luke's eyes swung right over to yours and now you were giving the smug smirk.

"I cuffed you because that blonde hair of yours caused you to do something extremely stupid. Now, I thought we weren't talking?"

Your lips pursed and your eyes slitted. "We're NOT! So just hurry up and get us over this bridge already."

"We've been over it for the past 30 seconds."

"What?"

You straightened up in your seat and looked around to see that you were now on a rural road surrounded by forestry.

"Hmmph." you marveled as you burrowed back into your heated leather seat. "Guess I was distracted."

Luke grinned as he glanced at you. "Exactly. It usually does the trick."

"Wait, so...you only engaged in conversation with me to distract me from my fear??"

"Yep and it worked like a charm. Guess I' m not such a bad guy after all."

"Says you."

His eyes snapped to you as he grimaced. "Why do you hate me so much?"

"Is that supposed to be a rhetorical question??? Can you please just STOP talking now??"

"Whatever." he mumbled and sped up.

Not even a minute passed and Luke was speaking again. "So...you're afraid of bridges huh? Why's that?"

Rolling your eyes, you sighed and continued to gaze out the window as you reluctantly replied.

"I'm not afraid of bridges. I'm afraid of heights. There's a difference."

"So, more so, you're afraid of falling really."

"Well duhhhh...and falling into what lies beneath it. All the weight of that water, just pulling me down further and further into it's ice cold depths where there's nothing but darkness and it fills my lungs as my panic forces me to suck it in, trying to breathe."

"Or...you could always swim."

Your eyes lowered as you became quiet and began fidgeting with your fingers.

As Luke looked at you, awaiting your usual mordant riposte, he quickly realized why you hadn't.

"You...you can't swim?"

"Does this even matter? Why can't you just leave me alone and quietly revel in my misery? I got my just deserves. But hey, if you do happen to find a heartbeat under that cold and austere armor, could you not mention this to my mother for the time being? This is the last thing she needs right now."

You wriggled your hips in the skintight seatbelt so you could turn towards the window to hide the oncoming tears of shame and once Luke couldn't see you, they poured out of your eyes like a waterfall. What you didn't consider was that he could see your emotional reflection in the glass as you silently sobbed.

5 minutes of faint intermittent whimpers and sniffles were unwillingly heard loud and clear by Luke. As he came to a stop at a red light, he looked over at you and that's when his own anxiety got the better of him.

Seeing you all vulnerable and huddled against the door like a child sent a stinging twinge of empathy through his heart and made him question if what he was doing was right, even if you did break the law, for he had goaded you and not only that, your anger was justified about Lee. He wasn't going to tell you that though or the fact that he spent many nights weeping and beating himself up over what happened between him and his once upon a time good friend. It was extremely hard for him to speak about just as it was for Lee, for Luke knew it was all of his own fault by intentionally knocking over the first domino, he just never knew the chain of events would lead up to what it did. What he did know is that someday, you would know the ugly truth.

As Luke neared the road that led straight into downtown Salem, the guilt trip he was on forced him to abruptly stop and turn around.

As he pulled to the side of the road and parked, you were already sitting straight up with wet and wildly confused eyes.

"What are you doing? The police station is the other way?"

"I'm not going there. Give me your hands."

"What??"

"Jo, just give me your hands before I change my mind."

As you slowly and unsurely swayed your hands in his direction, he grabbed them, startling you as he vigorously unlocked the cuffs, then yanked your seatbelt off.

"There. Go on. Get out of here."

You sat speechless for a moment, staring at him as he stared out of his window, chewing his thumb nail once again.

"You...you're letting me go...just like that??"

"Did I not just take the cuffs off and tell you to go?"

"Ok but...here? You want me to walk? It's at least another mile to get back to my apartment."

"Can't you just thank me and get out?"

"Why won't you look at me and WHY are you doing this?"

"God damn it." he grumbled and side eyed you. "Why are you such a pain in the ass??!! Just fucking go!"

"Not until you tell me why you changed your mind and are freeing me into the wild like some caged bird??!!"

His palms slapped over his face and then he roughly dragged them down as he groaned in frustration.

"If I tell you, will you fly away???"

"Depends on what the answer is."

"Holy fucking hel..." he began as his fuming eyes met yours, but abruptly paused when he saw the remnants of your tears, then popped the glove box open, ripped a tissue out and held it in front of you as he continued, refusing to look at you once again.

"It's what you said about your mum. You're right. She don't need this. I spoke with her briefly last night and she was quite distraught about Megan so, I just feel with all her grief over one daughter, she don't need the added stress from another."

"So you're telling me you're doing this for my mom??"

"You sound like that's incredibly hard to believe."

"I don't know what to believe from you anymore Luke. One minute, you're this sweet and caring man that seems to have a heart, like the one who once came to my mom's house and comforted me through an anxiety attack and even defended me against my sister and stopped me from strangling her, WHICH ironically I was doing for you with Landy only 24 hours prior when you morphed into robot Arnie the freaking terminator...and the next minute, you're back to being human again, helping me back there on the bridge and now you're claiming to let me go out of sympathy for my mom."

You sat back in a huff, realizing that Lee was behaving the exact same way and you were at a crossroads, literally, on what to do anymore about either of these messed up men.

Luke sighed and softened up a bit. "Look Jo. I don't know what else to say. I pushed you over the edge, waving a red flag at you. If I hadn't done that, I don't think we would be sitting here right now."

And so you softened up a bit too. "Yeah well, I pretty much came at you sideways and got you all riled up."

Luke chuckled and shook his head, then looked right at you with a disbelieving smile.

"What?" you asked, returning a half smile as your eyes curiously tried to figure him out.

"You. You're so afraid of all these things that are bigger than you and here I am, at least 3 times your size, yet you weren't afraid to shove me on my ass. I'm not sure what shocks me more. The fact that you did it or the fact that you were even able to do it. I admire that fire in you Jo. Don't ever let anyone try to put it out. With that said though, use that fire on those other than authority. If it were anyone other than myself or Gerry, you'd be at the station right now being booked as we speak."

You gasped. "Oh god, speaking of, I better call Dave and tell him because I guarantee he's already on his way to bail me out and you'll be busted. I mean, it's the least I can do so you don't lose your job over me."

Luke sat quietly stunned as you made the call, telling Dave to turn around and asking him to keep what he knew under wraps.

"There. He won't say anything. I really hope you are going to lay off of him now."

"As long as these ferry tickets he gave me and the ferryman's words all coincide, he should be good. Thank you Jo and... for the record, I wouldn't have just left you out here. I would have let you sweat for about 5 minutes and then came back." Luke teased with the usual curled grin, then put the car in drive.

Your riposte came out of left field and definitely struck a nerve. "Thanks for sparing me from being another victim of love em and leave em Luke."

Luke gritted his teeth, appalled by knowing that either Orlando or Lee had told you about his notorious moniker of his younger days that he had long forgotten about and wanted to keep it that way.

"This joy ride is over. It's time for you to go home and...about Lee. Just stop asking me. It's his story to tell. Put your seatbelt on."

"It's not just his story when you're involved."

"Wasting...your...breath." he firmly certified and slid a cd in, hoping to shut you up.

You buckled your belt then crossed your arms and scoffed as you sank back into the seat. When a song came on, Luke cranked it up and began mumbling the words as he tapped his fingers upon the wheel and both the singing and the choice of music had your eyes gaping at him with an severely raised brow.

"There'll be no strings to bind your hands..." he began and then snickered as he glanced at you. "How fitting eh?"

"Seriously? You have a Juice Newton cd? Why am I not all that surprised."

"You're mocking me when you clearly know who she is?"

"Nope. Not at all. It's just that the night you drove my car, your choice of music was quite different and frankly much better."

"Oh, you mean Radar Love. Yeah well it was fitting for the occasion just like this one because now here we are with you, a cheery oh angel of the morning." he razzed and then beamed a snarky smile full of teeth.

Shaking your head, you heavily sighed and looked away, trying to ignore the overgrown infant beside you, but that quickly became impossible when he began crooning out the chorus, which you knew was solely just to annoy you.

"JUST CALL ME ANGEL OF THE MORNING BABY! JUST TOUCH MY CHEEK BEFORE YOU LEAVE ME BABY! Then slowly turn away...from meeeee."

"Whad'ya think? Next American Idol winner?" he gloated and howled on with his karaoke session, which if you were to be honest, Luke had a damn good set of pipes but you wouldn't dare tell him that because then he would certainly never shut up.

"Goblin king, take this baby away from me!" you irrationally jeered, then flung your head back against the seat and closed your eyes to try and zone him out, hoping he would take the hint to leave you alone, but you should have known better than that.

Luke's speedy riposte was a breath stealing punch to the gut and you had pretty much had set yourself up for it.

"Oooo ouch. That's rich coming from you. You know Jo, you should really be careful what you wish for since children seem to go missing when you're around."

Just as your eyes snapped open from the sting of his tongue, Luke was pulling up in front of your apartment and low and behold, Craig was outside speaking with what appeared to be a gardener.

"What a coinkydink. Daddy dearest in the flesh. So, does he know that Blaise was right within his reach that night and you knew and didn't...."

"He knows alright! I..I told him yesterday and now, I guess I'll be moving back in with my mom."

"Oh? Why not move in with Lee? You're basically at his place and up his arse all the time anyways aren't you?"

"Now you're the one wasting their breath. We're done here Luke. And if I were you, I'd get out of here before Craig sees you. Besides me, you're not exactly his favorite person."

"Not worried in the least."

As you opened the door, Luke touched your shoulder. "Hey Jo."

"What now??"

"Just be careful around him ok? You're probably better off to get away from him."

"And that's rich coming from YOU." you argued and got out.

Before you could close the door, Luke had more to say.

"Oh and Jo."

"Oh my god, what Luke??"

"Don't let the door hit you in that cute ass."

You shot a death glare at the derogative detective, then slammed the door and heard the blacked out window roll down.

With an arrogant wink, Luke put on a pair of mirrored sunglasses and attempted his best terminator voice. "I'll be bock."

Your eyes rolled so hard, it made you dizzy. "Ughhhh!"

As you stormed off, he revved the engine and sped off which then alerted Craig to your arrival. The last thing you wanted was another confrontation, especially with your rightfully pissed and soon to be ex-landlord, so you kept your head down and moved quickly, feeling his eyes upon you the entire time as you trekked up the sidewalk and into the building, but he never said a word.

You were now safe inside your apartment, all alone to finally gather and process all of your scattered thoughts, but first, you needed to call your mom and see how Megan was.

Slipping off your coat, you let it fall to the floor and went straight to the fridge for some wine, not caring that it was only 10 in the morning, the same time Craig had been drinking yesterday that you hypocritically gave him a lecture about. As you sat down on your bed with your full glass and turned your phone screen on, there was a text from Lee.

When you opened it and read his woeful words, your heart dropped down to your stomach as if you were falling.

Lee always expressed himself with such endearing words from his heart, but sometimes, he let poetry and music speak for him and this time, it was lyrics from a song you knew.

"I had all and then most of you, some and now none of you. Take me back to the night we met. I don't know what I'm supposed to do haunted by the ghost of you. Take me back to the night we met when the night was full of terrors and your eyes were filled with tears. When you had not touched me yet. Take me back to the night we met and then I can tell myself what the hell I'm supposed to do. And then I can tell myself not to ride along with you."

Your heart began to pound, for Lee was basically telling you he wished he could go back to that day in the hospital and never visit your room and that meant you never would have found his bracelet under your bed and took it to his house where your love story all began. You knew he wasn't trying to hurt you. He was just being honest about how he was feeling, but it still hurt. It hurt immensely.

You didn't reply. You didn't even know what to say to that, so you just picked up your wine and let the entire contents of the glass roll down your throat as you fought back the burning tears.

Desperately trying to distract yourself, you called your mom. She told you Megan was doing well but was still too groggy to speak. She also told you that she saw Lee that morning when she came down for coffee. He was on the phone with someone, seemingly upset, so she respectfully kept her distance but she couldn't help overhearing his scolding tone to the unlucky recipient. He spoke about his father's one month of passing and that he was going to his grave to pay his respects after attending the evening mass and told the other person that they should be going too, then Lee abruptly hung up and stormed out. You knew instantly it had to be Gordon and had something to do with the farm dispute between the two bitter brothers.

You told your mom you would be there later to sit with Megan so she could go home, eat and shower. When you hung up, you then nervously wondered if you should still go to the cemetery too, like you and Lee had planned, for if you saw him, you might not be able to walk away again.

Undecided, you got up to begin packing up some things since Craig had given you till the end of the month to move out and that was now only 7 days away. Luke's words haunted you about moving in with Lee as you sorted through your clothes. Yes, you were there all the time and everything was perfect in that area. You were so happy there with him. You would have been happy anywhere with him because Lee was home to you.

Your distraction tactic of keeping busy was failing miserably and it was quickly blown to bits when you were going through clothes you hadn't laundered yet and found a shirt of Lee's that you wore home a few mornings ago. And if that wasn't gut wrenching enough, it was still saturated in his Drakkar cologne and all you could do was scrunch it up against your nose and inhale his intoxicating essence as you laid down and cried your exhausted eyes to sleep.

Meanwhile, Craig was on his way up to your apartment to give you back your deposit and as he approached your door, he raised his hand to knock, but humbly lowered it when he could hear your muffled laments from within. Whatever you were going through, he felt that he should not add to it and it aggravated him that he even cared. Was any of it due to how he had treated you?, for he just witnessed you had rushed to avoid him at all costs or was it because of the depraved detective he had come to despise?, solely because he was Ethan's brother. Craig's street smarts told him Luke was still a red flag, no matter what surname he took on to disassociate himself with the flyblown Bloom blood and if Luke became a threat to you as Ethan had, he would handle him too. Regardless of what was ailing you, Craig decided to leave you alone for the time being and slipped the check under the door, then left, feeling rather disheartened over making you leave.

3 hours later.

You awoke in the same position that you fell asleep in, still tightly clutching Lee's shirt against you and now, not only did his sweet succulent scent seep from your pores, it was also imbedded in your purple satin sheets. You had to get rid of it. ASAP.

The bed was torn apart as you ripped the sheets from it and threw them in the basket along with the perpetrator, Lee's guilty shirt and then headed to the door to take them all down to the laundry room which is when you discovered the check laying on the floor.

Upon picking it up, the amount floored you, for it was hundreds more than what you had given Craig and attached on the back was a sticky note, scribbled in red ink with incredibly perfect penmanship for a man.

Craig certainly seemed to be on the wealthy side but this was too much and was clearly not about your clothes. It was his guilt over kicking you out and you weren't about to accept a payoff apology, especially when he didn't even have anything to be sorry about. You were the reason his 4 year old daughter was missing, even when you weren't the one who snatched her.

Exasperated over that and everything else, you hurried downstairs and packed the washer full of clothes along with an undetermined amount of soap while sobbing the entire time, then went back up to cry some more in the shower, a shower that was cut short by a burst of water as cold as the Atlantic and rust as red as blood....just like what happened to Dave. AND...you had the same reaction as he did.

Gasping and frantically rubbing your eyes, you huddled in the corner waiting for your sight and the water to clear. What was happening?? You did not believe that to be a coincidence all in a matter of 8 hours at two far away different locations, especially when that had never happened in your shower before. Was it some kind of sign, more so an omen or was it merely a plumbing issue like Dave believed his was?

Now that you were all primed and primped for the day, you resumed your packing while debating on calling Craig about his demonic shower needing an exorcist and to come get his money, or...you could just simply shove it back under his door with your own note attached so you didn't have to interact with him. Option 2 seemed best.

You scrawled out a note on the back of his and reattached it to the check, then quietly creeped down the hall to his studio where all was silent inside. Hoping he wasn't in there, you bent down and slipped it under the door, cringing at loud the sound was. Just as you stood up to tiptoe off undetected, footsteps swiftly approached the door.

Spinning around with a gasp, you rushed off only to freeze solid at his shout from directly within the door.

"Just Josie. Come on in!"

With a gulp, you hesitated then slowly made your way back to the door and walked in. There he stood, dressed in all black attire as usual and wickedly grinning while holding your check.

He then turned it over and began reading your note out loud in a trenchant, yet amused tone.

"Thank you but no thank you. My outfit only cost twenty bucks at a thrift shop."

"Well, if that's so." he continued, "then you obviously like deals and that's what this is. A hell of a bargain actually."

"Craig, the added amount is almost as much as one months rent. All you needed to give me was my deposit."

"I was trying to apologize for my wine induced behavior and the harsh things I said to you and a simple "I'm sorry" just didn't seem to cut it."

"You don't owe me an apology Craig. I deserved all of it and the paint bath too."

"You were only trying to help my drunk ass up and even after the first failed attempt that ruined your clothing, you still tried again. And no, you didn't deserve my spontaneous misguided anger. You didn't kidnap my child and you certainly couldn't have known that it was going to happen."

"How could I have not?? I witnesses Elizabeth drop her off at Angel's in a panic over Ethan harassing her about paternity. I should have tried a hell of a lot harder to reach you, end of story... and for that, I will forever be so damn sorry, but as you said, those words just don't seem to cut it. I..I pray that you find Blaise safe, sound and soon. I really do and I will do whatever I can to help make that happen and make things right for you and her. Now, I have to go finish packing. Your apology is accepted and please just keep the money."

"Alright." Craig agreed with astonished disappointment all over his face as he watched you walk out.

His agreement was short lived though and he chased after you, squeezing in your door just before you turned to close it.

"Craig, what the..."

"Just hear me out. Please?"

"Do I even have a choice since you barged right in?"

"Do you want me to leave?"

"Ok fine, but whatever you have to say, you'll have to say it while watching me pack. I have a lot to do today."

"Fair enough. I guess I'll start with Jason. Are we even now?"

"Even?? Craig, I swear I didn't use Blaise to get back at you for..."

"No no no. Jo, I know you didn't and I'm sorry I ever said that. What I meant was, well...if I forgive you, can you forgive me for not telling you your brother was alive? I mean, you were pretty rabid mad that day. Just a little bit scary." he teased with a smile.

You chuckled as you thought of what you just did to Luke. "Yeah umm...I guess I too had spontaneous misguided anger. It was meant for Jason, not you. I know you were just trying to keep him safe and you did. You saved his life, so how can I not forgive you?"

"Sweet. So we're square now. Well, except for one thing."

Craig walked over to your suitcase and began tearing your clothes out of it.

"What are you doing??"

"What does it look like I'm doing? I'm unpacking your clothes."

"What...wait...why?? Put those back!"

"I will not. I don't want you to leave. I kinda like you a little bit if I'm honest AND I think you kinda like it here and maybe even me too and..."

He held up a long blue dress and placed it against his brawny body. "And oooh wow. Smokin hot."

"Give me that!" you barked and grabbed it, but Craig laughed and wouldn't let go.

"Nope. Not until you agree to stay." he demanded as you both were now playing tug of war...until the dress split right down the middle.

"Oh, well THAT'S great. It's all yours!" you huffed and plopped down on the edge of the bed.

Craig sat down too and slowly handed you the ripped remnants.

"Sorry." he whispered.

You couldn't even be mad, especially when he had the shameful expression of dog who got busted for chewing up a pair of shoes. Instead, you did what you were becoming a pro at lately. Broke down crying with your face buried in your hands.

"Whoaaa, hey now sweetheart. What's this??"

"Everything!" you squeaked and then rambled on. "My sister was hurt really bad and is in the hospital. She could have, would have died if she hadn't been found and I know Ethan did it, and I was almost arrested today for what you described as my rabid madness and Jason took off with Britt because of your creepy ass father and Lee, he is...I don't even know anymore with that and then everyone's showers are spraying blood and..."

"Alright slowwww down and breathe love. Let's start with the psycho scene. Showers are spraying blood??"

"Yes, mine and Dave's. Well, he said it was rust but with all this ghost shit, I don't know what to think."

"Ghosts??"

"Long story. Is your shower doing that?"

"No...and what did you do to almost land yourself behind bars?"

You mumbled your answer in shame. "I...assaulted a cop."

Craig's eyes popped wide open as he released a titter out of is grinning lips. "Oh how I would have loved to have had a front row seat to that event. What a little baddy you are. Remind me to never piss you off."

"Not funny." you sniffled.

"Ok, maybe not then, but you're obviously not in jail. So, how'd you get out of that mess? Oh wait, was it your ex-fiance cop?"

"Let's just skip this part ok? I shouldn't have mentioned it."

Considering Craig saw Luke drop you off and how fired up you both seemed, he knew it was him you spoke of, but per your request, he would drop it and the overwhelming desire to take the little piggy to market...for now.

"Yeah cops aren't exactly my favorite subject either. Ok so...what's going on with your sister? Ethan attacked her?"

"It certainly appears that way but she hasn't been alert enough to finger him. I'm going to the hospital later to see if she's talking, but I just know it was him. I think he did it because she told Luke that she thinks Ethan took Blaise because he thinks he is her father or maybe he did it to scare me because he hates me and wants Lee all to himself."

"That measly inbred maggot. I should have just taken care of that problem when..."

Craig stopped himself but, it was too late.

"When? Does that have something to do with what you said yesterday? About something you did for me involving him??"

Craig seemed stunned and he was. "I...said that??"

"Yes..I...I just forgot with all that was going on. Craig, what did you mean?"

"Jo, I was quite sauced yesterday remember? I tend to say a lot of things when I drink. What...exactly...did I say?" he probed with an curious brow so he could figure out if he had to tell you what he knew about Ethan and Lee.

"You said you protected me from him but never said why or how."

Craig made sure that his explanation wasn't a lie, it just wasn't the entire truth because he felt you didn't need to know Lee was still Ethan's husband during a meltdown.

"Ohhh...that. Yes, well...I...I saw him once and I basically told him to stay away from you or he'd be fish food." he paraphrased as his heart began to beat again.

"You did that for me?"

Craig suddenly felt awkward. Not in a bad way, but more in a "too close for comfort" kind of way, so he gave a logical answer instead of admitting he had taken a sweet fancy to you, which was the last thing he wanted. He had vowed to himself after Elizabeth's destruction that he would never allow himself to become close to another woman ever again.

"Well...you're my best friend's little sister, so, you know. What's important to Jason is important to me."

"Well thank you and well... I wish you HAD fed Ethan to a mosh pit of sharks, still ALIVE and baited in a pool of his own blood and then let me watch so I could hear his screeching screams and the satisfying crunch of his bones as the angry aquatic vampires with a thousand razor sharp teeth chomped him to death in a splashing feeding frenzy of pure diabolical rage."

"Yeeesh. Easy there Annie Wilkes. Tell me how you really feel, minus the Stephen King synopsis. Horrifying image."

"Arrrgh. Jason was supposed to have taken care of him by now and for saying that, I feel like such a fucking hypocrite for giving him and Lee such a hard time about Liz when she was no better than Ethan."

"And I married the black widow. Even had a kid with her, or so I thought. Creator of life, destroyer of mine. "

'"So did Lee basically. She fooled everyone, EVEN Ethan. God Craig, how could she do that to her own son??? That little boy was my nephew and now Ethan has your daughter and I know he's not just going to forget about Lee. So much keeps happening. No wonder I ended up in the hospital."

"I...I heard about that and...I wanted to maybe send you some flowers or come visit but...I..I didn't think my presence would have been appropriate, you know, just being your landlord and all and well...there's the little tidbit of my primary profession as well that I'm sure Lee isn't too fond of. Anywhoooo...I'm really glad you're ok. You're...ok..right?"

"For the most part yeah. Just gotta keep my iron intake up and stress levels down, which you can see is damn near impossible with the life I'm stuck in."

"You're only stuck if you choose to be."

"It doesn't feel like a choice anymore, even when I try to...ugh, it doesn't even matter."

Craig's ocean-like eyes were consoling as his hand went to your cheek. "Hey, it does matter. What else is bothering you? I have really good listening ears like that of a faithful family dog, only much less hair and a strong but soft shoulder to lean on and even comforting arms if you recall."

"I don't know. Like, for one thing, I'm supposed to hate my sister after all the horrible shit she's done to me and yet, I'm having a hard time hating her after what happened. Like, why...why do I care about people that don't deserve it???"

"Because you have a good heart which can sometimes be a curse really. You're supposed to be able to trust the people closest to you and when they go and give you a reason not to, it's a total mind fuck. It's hard to let them go even when you know it's what's best for you. I get it Jo."

"What I don't get is why I'm not good enough for the truth. I'm always being lied to. It's become nothing but a pattern and how am I supposed to trust someone when I don't know what they're holding back?"

"Ok first of all, you are good enough and if someone doesn't see that, then they are the ones not good enough and second of all, why do I feel this is not about your sister?"

"I appreciate what you're trying to do Craig, but...it doesn't matter."

"It does matter because you're clearly not happy. Tears don't lie. Are...you happy?"

Your eyes fell. "No. No I'm not. I'm miserable."

"Me too. Why don't you stay. We can be miserable neighbors together and drink wine every day and night to the point of inebriation, creating terrible art as a hobby while being covered in a rainbow of paint. You know, kind of like I already do? It's actually kinda fun and therapeutic. A little bit of good trouble..per se. I could use some inspiration as you well know."

You giggled. "Right...because we would actually be the artwork. How inspiring."

"Exactly! Except you'd be a firework. Oh, and you still owe me a viewing of your own masterpieces. So...whad'ya say?"

Craig got down on one knee and took your hand as he gave you a pathetic puppy face.

"Will you be my neighbor?"

"Oh my god you're such a nerd. Get up." you chortled and stood up.

"Well, I've been called much worse. Things I cannot even pronounce. You don't want to know, trust me. Sooooo, is that a yes?"

"I'll think about it."

"YES!" he jeered like an old lady at a bingo game winning the jackpot.

"So now, I'm really sorry but I need to get going. Thank you Craig...for listening and for the advice. It was nice. I want you to know I'm thinking of Blaise everyday and if I can help, I will. You'll never convince me that it wasn't my fault."

In the blink of an eye, Craig became all serious as he placed his hands on your arms. "Alright but, before I go, I need you to listen to me. Don't be letting your guilt cause you to do something dangerous. You let me handle this ok?? I don't want anything happening to you. Let me know what you decide on the apartment and...I'm really glad you're ok Jo and I...I hope you will stay. I like having you around."

He softly smiled and headed to the door, then turned back around.

"Oh and...I'm also glad you don't hate me."

"Ditto." you smiled. "Talk soon."

Craig left and you felt terrible for him. The formidable mafia man, always full of quirky humor wasn't so tough on the inside and was clearly lonely, but even so, you had to do what was best for you and if you stayed, would it really be a good idea? Had you known when you first moved in that Craig was one of Sonny's men and Jason's bff, you most likely would have ran away as fast and as far as you could. On the other hand, he could protect you and he wanted to and you felt safe around him. BUT, that didn't mean you would be. Things could always go wrong, especially in his world, which was now your world. Although, hadn't it always been your world because of Jason? And things always went wrong then, no matter where you were. Even your own brother couldn't keep you safe.

In your confliction, you knew you may still need to leave on a temporary basis because of your sister. No one knew yet what happened to her or where Ethan was, so she could still be in danger and that put your mom in danger as well with Megan living with her.

As you carried on with packing the rest of the one suitcase for the time being, once again you were interrupted. This time by the cordless phone ringing that Lee had talked you into getting for extra ways of communication. You decided to let the answering machine get it because you were in a hurry to get to the hospital, but when Lee's hypnotizing voice was heard, you stood frozen in time.

"Hey sweet girl. I tried your cell but...I don't know, it must be on silent or maybe you just don't want to talk to me. I wish you would. I'm sorry about my text. I didn't mean it in the way you must think. If you're there, could you please pick up? I'd really love to hear your voice."

He paused and waited a few moments, then continued.

"Ok, well, I...I'll just say what I need to say and leave you alone. Jo, I know I've said this so many times and it just sounds so meaningless, but I mean it, with every ounce of my being. I'm so sorry baby. For all of this. For all I have put you through. It's only been a single day and I miss you in ways that there are no words for. You are a mental and physical ache. A longing woven deep into my DNA and I...I don't know how to live like this. I've said it before and I'll say it again. I'm nothing without you. I'm inside out. I merely exist in this soulless shell and because I know you exist, there's no going back for me. There will never be anyone else for me but you. No one else could ever do. The heart wants what it wants and mine wants you and I knew it. I knew you were the right one from the get go and I still know it because the word "forever" does not sound like enough time."

As your heart was being torn in two and devoured by his agony, you walked over to the phone and picked it up, letting your finger hover over the call button, but you couldn't bring yourself to answer, so you just kept listening to his unintentional torture.

"I know I have no one else to blame but myself. I know I'm broken. We were both broken. By life. By others. By our own serious dysfunctions, but we finally found each other after a decade of near misses. We were so close to each other all that time, yet so far apart and when destiny finally stepped in and we finally came together like the sun and moon during a total eclipse, all of the jagged edges of our broken pieces fit together like a puzzle, as if all that time, we were being broken for that purpose, to be a perfect fit for each other. But now I feel like I don't fit anywhere at all. Not anymore. Life goes on around me as i sit here and watch the boats sail by on the bay and I feel like I'm just a spectator, watching from the sidelines. You were...are my life. You are where I belong. You are my purpose, my reason. God Jo. Without you, all I want to do is drown my sorrows away and Lord knows I've tried, but even then, a sea full of whiskey couldn't intoxicate me as much as a drop of you. Because of you, I believe in love and fairytales and soulmates and everything that is magic. I followed the signs because you showed them to me. Just tell me it's not too late. Don't give up on me. I want to tell you everything and if I can bring myself to do that, maybe then you'll understand. I guess I've wrote a novel here and I should go. I still wish you would come today...to the cemetery. I'll be there around 4. If you don't come, it's ok. I will understand. Ok well..."

There was a pause and then he finished as his voice became very shaky. "I...I love you Miss Massachusetts. God I love you."

Lee quickly hung up and sat down. He had too. The 3 Red Bulls he downed earlier paired with the threat of an oncoming panic attack had him jittery, weak and breathless.

"Lee wait!" you shouted as you punched the red button, but there was nothing but a dial tone.

Should you call him back? It would be so much easier than speaking to him in person because he had this wicked way of breaking you down and getting what he wanted from you that no one else had ever possessed, but of course he could say the same thing about you. Now the real question was, should you go? Lee clearly needed you and you were worried about him. You could hear it in his voice, the fear, the destitution and desperation...the love. And just because you and he were having problems didn't mean you would abandon him, but were you strong enough to uphold your boundaries in his presence? The mere sight of him was like some invisible magic in itself. You felt so guilty because he was fighting like hell for you and you were keeping him at arms length and just running away. Fight or flight? That was the all out question now and you knew exactly who to go to for the answers. Someone who had been through it all. Your mother.

@redeemer46

[psilliguykai]

give me the under my skin hms ramble i think about that song and hms every time i listen to it (song)

Aurghhhhefiwodslnk sorry for the late response but tysm for asking !!! Seriously this made my day - I’m so happy to hear other people agree and are interested in hearing me ramble :D

This got wayyy too long so a bit more context + actual ramble under the cut!

Sorry in advance, I’ve historically been more of an animator/visualizor than a text analyzer so this might seem more like. poorly written notes for a music video rather than a proper assessment lol. 

Also a couple notes:

1: None of this is meant to be “objectively correct” - this is all just how I personally envision the song, but you’re welcome to disagree! Think of this more as “Here’s what it looks like in my brain and if you agree, cool!” rather than “this is what YOU need to think” :]

2: In my futile attempt to keep this a reasonable length, I’ll only be including lyrics I actually have a solid vision for.

3: Under My Skin Heart and Mind art piece which sparked this, for those who don’t have context ^^

Alright let’s get on with it :p

The first section is Soul singing to and/or about Heart and Mind. 

“I can fit two people under my skin”

This is him feeling irritated and fed up with H&M. He’s stuck with these two other people (rather than in the original where one of the two said people is actually the singer, iirc) and their constant bickering. Them and their incessant fighting are getting under his skin. 

“You crawl up in there and join me within” could be daring the audience/new challenges to come and add to his already existing problems perhaps ??

“I can feel your heart beating under my skin

And the beating of your heart is making me bleed from within

And if we cut open your heart, pour it in a cup”

I this is Mind talking to Soul about Heart [getting "under his skin"]. Rather than “cut open your heart” meaning to pour out your emotions, in this case Mind is possibly suggesting violence against Heart. 

“Do you think it'd be enough, do you think it'd be enough

To fill... my heart with music?

Oh no, not a chance in hell

Yeah I've heard you sing but it ain't too well

Heart melts, yeah you meant so well

But your song's no good round here”

Soul gets irritated and interrupts Mind’s suggestions of violence and adding to the conflict. I read this in the tone of like . “Do you really think I’m that gullible? That you could just convince me to hurt him like that? That it’ll help the situation? I’ve heard both your ‘songs’ [as a metaphor for sob stories and lies in teh attempt to sway him] too many times already. Fuck no, and fuck off.”

“I can feel you breathing under my skin

I can feel you breathing under my skin

And each breath you take is a brand new begin

Each breath you take, brand new begin..ing”

Soul is talking about Heart and Mind again, “each breath” being each quarrel and fight and violent action ending up in a reset of the time loop [“brand new beginning”].

“England has a way of getting under my skin

And my family has a way of getting under my skin

And my family had a castle way back when”

Australian erasure; they’re English now [/j!!]

Nah fr though. This is Soul talking, first about the general stressful surroundings/environment which led Whole to split ["England"], then about Heart and Mind, them being his “family” [which isn’t necessarily literal - I feel this can apply regardless of how you see HMS’s relationship] and the “castle” being whole. 

“I don't think there is anyone under your skin

Like a Cheshire cat I think that you are just a grin

And I can feel you laughing, under my skin

And the happy palpitations are making me... grin.”

The Part!! It’s The Part!!! As depicted in the art piece, I see this as Heart singing to Mind and Waugh does it fit so well (in my opinion anyways :3). Heart is telling Mind how he feels despite everything he (Heart) and possibly Soul as well go through, plus everything Heart tries to do to him, Mind remains unfazed. Grinning. Think “but every time I’ve hurt you, or at least tried to, you’ve laughed and smiled instead” from Light. 

A more personal note outside of analyzing the song: I don’t think Mind is truly unfazed. I think either he’s physically unable to stop smiling, he simply grins and laughs through suffering as a natural response, and/or he puts on a facade in an attempt to make himself seem stronger and more mature than heart. Perhaps a somewhat trite and overstated belief in the fandom, but I find it pretty accurate, intriguing, and important :]

Anyways, Mind analysis aside- I see the “happy palpitations” as sarcastic, and referring to the stress and suffering Mind’s presence and the fighting with him puts him through. It causes his (Heart’s) own uh. Heart. To palpitate. I believe “happy” and “grin” are in a bitter sense - he’s so stressed and breaking down to the point where all he can do is grin. It could also be in a completely sarcastic sense, somewhat mocking Mind. Final alternative option is that during the pause before grin, Heart comes to a realization/conclusion and decides to go more strongly against Mind. he decides that rather than fall victim to Mind’s attacks and fighting and mocking, he’ll “transmute the pain to kinetic energy” so to speak (the kinetic energy being stronger defense/attacks against Mind).

“You know it fills my heart with music...

Oh no, not a chance in hell

Yeah I've heard you sing but it ain't too well

Heart melts, yeah you meant so well

But your song's no good round here

Oh no, not a chance in hell

Yeah I've heard you sing but it ain't too well

Heart melts, yeah you meant so well

But your song's no good round heeere no no no no!”

I think this Whole [haha] last section would be cool with all of HMS singing at once. They’re all getting under each other’s skin. They’re each done with and can see right through the others' “songs” [pleas and attempts at cutting down or manipulating one another for control]. None of it's any “good round here” anymore - they’ve each heard it all before and it’s turning them exhausted, irritated, and bitter towards each other.

Thank you again sploon-fic-fan for the ask, this was so much fun :DDD and uh thank you if you read this far!! Sorry it got so long, I get really passionate about animatic-vision-type things and this has been bouncing around in my brain for a while now ^^ if you haven't already, go check out the song Under My Skin by Jukebox the Ghost it's super duper cool and very HMS-coded [see essay above lol] :3