#Aricka and dori

[arickaandherfictionalothers]

“Stay awake...please... I'm ordering you to stay awake!"

(Aricka x Caracalla, Aricka and Geta, Aricka and Dori)

(When one of the gladiators (NOT HANNO) shoots an arrow at the royal box, treachery occurs. Geta and Caracalla scramble to aid the newest member of their family- Caracalla’s beloved, Aricka.)

(TRIGGER WARNINGS: heavy blood mentioning, description of arrow injury, fainting due to blood loss; heavy angst!)

*Geta*

Everything was going so well. Geta, his brother; and Aricka, Caracalla’s beloved “little dove” as he called her, were gathered in the Royal Box with Acacius, Lucilla, and several of the senators.

Aricka was resplendent in a golden dress, matching the one she made Caracalla two days prior. She was holding his hand, perched on the armrest of his throne, the pair talking as though they had known each other for years. It made Geta smile.

And then it all went so wrong, so fast.

“Aricka? How are you enjoying the games?” Geta asks, looking over at her. She leans over; having not heard.

“What, Get-?” She couldn’t finish her sentence, because at that moment; she jerked back with a cry of pain, and with a start Geta realized she had been pierced-

With an arrow from the coliseum.

She falls backwards, and Geta, not caring if another arrow was heading towards him, lurched for her, scrambling to pull her against him so she wouldn’t hurt her head.

She grips his hand and he lets it happen, intertwining their fingers. “Geta…?” She sounds so confused, so- far away.

"Aricka?!" His eyes widen in fear as he scrambles to catch her, "Oh no... Oh no, no, no, no!" He glances over at Dori, who's frozen with fear for her sister, before looking back at Aricka. "It's alright. You're going to be alright." He presses his hand against the wound, crimson red blood pooling around his fingers as he does.

It was staining her dress… the blood was staining her dress and her skin…

She gasps as she looks at her shoulder, breath quickening, causing more blood to gush out. “Geta…!”

“Shh... I-It's alright. Steady your breathing. You will be fine." He frantically looks over at Caracalla, frozen with fear just like Dori. "Brother!" He yells to snap him out of it, "Go find a healer, quick!"

“Healer-!!” Caracalla yells, “you-!” He grabs a soldier. “You will go and find the best healer the palace has to offer, bring them here immediately. Or suffer the consequences if you fail.” He does the same with several other soldiers.

“My… my arm…” He begins wiping her hair from her face as sweat begin to seep down her face. She struggles to breath, vision already blurring. “Dori…?”

"We will get her for you, Aricka. Right now just-just focus on your breathing, alright? Caracalla's fetching a healer for you now."

She blinks sluggishly, “so.. tired… Sorry… Geta…” panic fills him at those words. She couldn’t.. she just couldn’t…

"No, NO! No," He holds her face in his hand, patting her cheek to keep her alert, "Stay awake...please... I'm ordering you to stay awake!"

Her blinking, gasping. “You.. are…” she hesitates. “Geta… I’m so… tired…”

Tears begin to sting Geta's eyes as he chokes back a sob, "Please! ... I'm begging you to stay awake, Aricka... Please... If not for me, than for your sister. Just don't give in! PLEASE!"

Blue eyes meet brown. A shaky hand-the one holding his-presses to his cheek. “… I love you.. and Calla… you.. m’family…”

Geta squeezes his eyes shut as tears begin to flow down his cheeks. He sobs, "I love you too...as does Caracalla... He adores you..." he brushes another section of hair away from her face, "And Dori loves you... so much... P-Please hold on..."

“Let me have her, brother.” Caracalla scoops her up, and he does a scream rips from her throat, a gut wrenching horrible sound that silenced the entire coliseum, and the older twin begins running to the palace

Aricka manages to lock eyes with Geta, before blue eyes roll back and she passes out, blood loss overwhelming her body.

———

*Dori*

Dori was frantic. She hadn’t seen the traitor gladiator, hadn’t seen him lift the crossbow and aim at the box. She did, however, see the arrow pierce her sister’s shoulder, saw her sister flail back into Geta’s arms, saw the twin emperors immediately react and close ranks around her.

Geta and her shared an unreadable (to anyone else) expression. They nod; and immediately begin looking for a way to escape the arena.

Then the scream reached her ears. She became more frantic, "MOVE! I need to get to my sister! I need to get to her, please!Tears gush down her face. “ARICKA-!”

————-

*Caracalla*

Caracalla was- despairing. He held Aricka, whose precious lifeblood was pouring out from her like a river to the ocean, and he had no way to save her. He couldn’t heal her. He would have to set her down, let her go, so she could be tended to.

He looks down, and he pales even more to see her unconscious. “No…” he begins to move faster. Pushing to his own chambers, setting her on his bed. “BROTHER-! Where is DORI-?!” He holds her hand, gripping onto it for dear life. “Don’t leave me,” he says around a sob. “I still have so much to tell you…”

————

*Aricka*

Burning. Aching pain. And then- nothing.

Aricka woke up. She felt no pain. She looked around- she was in Caracalla’s room. Something prickled on her shoulder, and she felt a faint scar when she investigated. She looks down- her stomach was swollen- she was pregnant?

The door opens and she looks over to see- “beloved,” she hears herself say.

“My little dove, you are as radiant as the day I first laid eyes on you.” Caracalla walks over, hands on her shoulders, carefully, and kisses her temple. A ringer hand comes to rest on her stomach. “How is our little prince?”

“He is eager to join us in this world,” she replies. Caracalla laughs.

“So impatient,” he said.

“Like his father,” Aricka hears herself jest. “And where is our little Aelia?”

“Right here, mother-!” A little girl with blonde hair, blue eyes and the sweetest smile- Caracalla’s smile, Aricka realized- appeared. “How is baby Caius?”

“He is growing and so ready to meet his big sister!” Caracalla scoops her up, swinging the little girl around, making her giggle.

“I’m dizzy now, tata-!” She giggled. Caracalla perched the child on his hip, one arm around her back.

“Is that better, dulcedo?” She laughs and nods.

Aricka stands and joins them, her chin on Caracalla’s shoulder, her hand on Aelia’s back. “I never thought, when you asked me to join you in your royal box that day…”

“That we would get all this? I didn’t either, my love.” He smiles so softly at her, making Aricka’s heart thump painfully.

And then- she woke up.

———————

She woke with a gasp, eyes fluttering open as she takes in her surroundings- she knew this room. Not only had she just dreamed about it; she had been in here before.

Caracalla’s room. She scans the room further and sees-

“Dori-? Geta..?”

"Aricka!" The two gasp in unison, having just walked in to check on her. Dori practically launches themself onto their sister. Needing to hold her after fearing that she would never wake up again. "Oh, Aricka..." They sob, "I thought I was going to lose you..."

Aricka winced, one hand coming to her sister’s hair. “Sh…” she looks at Geta, standing behind Dori. “… it’s okay. Come on..”

That's all Geta needs before leaning in to hug her as well. "We were worried sick about you..." he sigh

She runs a weak hand through his hair. “I.. I’m sorry…” she whispered. “I tried to stay awake…” she pressed a kiss to both of their heads.

"It's alright. You did as best as you could," he whispers back, "I didn't know what your fate was going to be... I was just scared that you wouldn't make it..."

“You told me to fight… I did.” They sit in silence for a moment. “What.. what happened? To me?”

"After you fainted, Caracalla brought you here and the healer dressed your wound. Then Dori came to stay by your side and we both watched you for the night.” Geta allowed himself to run a hand through her hair, this girl who (along with her sister) had come to mean so much to him and Caracalla.

“… how many days…?”

"Two... and a quarter, if you count this morning." Dori lightly chuckles. Aricka giggled even though it hurt, but then went silent.

“…. Caracalla?” She whispered. “Is he…?” She was afraid to ask.

"He's perfectly fine," Geta says, "He has been just as worried as we have. He would watch you during the day while Dori and I watched you at night. It should be time for him to be here soon."

She smiles, not even trying to hide how please she was at that. “Good… I missed all of you. When I was sleeping.”

"We missed you too." Dori says, squeezing Aricka's hand.

The doors swing open, and Aricka looks up to see- “Calla-!” She says as loudly as possible- which isn’t as loud as it usually is, but enough for him to hear.

He sees her; and it seems like she is the only thing he sees at that moment. He staggers towards her, and she opens her arms just as he falls into them

Geta and Dori move out of the way. Giving Caracalla all the room he needs to embrace Aricka.

His shoulders are shaking, and the wetness gathering on her skin let her know all she needed to. “Oh.. oh Caracalla…” she tugs him close with one arm, “I’m -!” She couldn’t finish, because he surged forward to slot his lips against hers; hands grasping her neck.

“I love you,” he says once he pulls back. “I love you. I cannot- I will not- go another day without making my affections for you known.”

Without giving her a chance to reply he was pressing his lips back against hers, fervently; desperately kissing her, as though she would vanish if he didn’t. Aricka is vaguely aware of Dori dragging Geta from the room.

“Calla… my beloved Caracalla…” she whispers against his lips. “I never thought, when you asked me to join you in your royal box… oh…. Oh beloved…”

“Stay… stay with me.. be my wife. My Empress. Stay, stay, don’t leave me, just stay….”

“Yes, yes, absolutely, of course I will, yes, yes…” she whispers, cupping his face in her hands so she can look him in the eye. “I love you,” she whispers. “I love you, as a lover, and I love Geta as a future brother in law…. I love you. My Caracalla…”

He pressed his forehead against hers, their eyes both closed. She sighs softly. He does too. “My Aricka…” she blushes at that. “Marry me…”

“Yes.”

“Yes?”

“Yes…”

“Yes-!” He removes the ring from his pinky; slides it onto her finger. “This is yours. As is my heart. For all time.”

And it always was.

——————-

@astralshipper @rosieshipper @hyperionshipping @yeehawselfshipping @letsgofoletsgo

[arickaandherfictionalothers]

@yeehawselfshipping it’s just missing Aricka Hopper, Aricka Munson, Billy and Dori-🥺

BTS footage of Joseph Quinn — with Joe Keery, Maya Hawke and Natalia Dyer in The Upside Down 😌

[arickaandherfictionalothers]

Nightmares come to life

(Aricka H x Steve, Aricka M x Billy, Dori x Eddie, Nancy x Jonathan; Ralphie x Chrissy, Robin, Heather, Artie, Eric)

(Steve has a dream where his friends’ and his own fears come to life.)

Dream

It began with Steve realizing he was standing in front of Hawkins high school- wearing his “king Steve” attire- a nice polo; jeans and whatever shoes he’d worn then- which clued him in to this dream being a different kind. He looks around, and he freezes as a group of what appeared to be zombies crawl their way towards him in jerky, shaking patterns. He runs toward the school, and to his surprise lyrics begin to spill out of him, and Eddie appears beside him,

“Trapped in these feelings…” Ralphie and Jonathan round a corner,

“I could lose everything-!” Billy comes up from behind them;

“She’s the reason I do everything I do-!”

The four hear screaming and run toward the sound; meanwhile…

Aricka Hopper runs from a zombie version of Steve, Robin gripping her hand as they sing,

“My mind is screamin'-!”

Aricka Munson runs from a flayed version of her boyfriend Billy, and into the real arms of her boyfriend, singing,

“Feels like I'm pulled between

My wildest dreams, can't they all come true?”

Dori and Nancy run from zombie versions of their respective partners,

“Stalked by echos that play so loud-!”

Chrissy hiding from a mangled version of herself, adding her own voice,

“Is my destiny best for me

If I show 'em the rest of me?”

Aricka Hopper finally finds Steve, looking up at him with worry in her eyes, “Like a maze with no way out..”

“Painted with jealousy-!”

“Vanity-!”

“No escape from reality-!” Steve, Robin and Nancy exclaim as they run to the cafeteria.

“Nowhere left to run

Feel the shadows closin' in on me-!” Aricka M covers her face in fear, hiding from the bad universe version of Billy as her actual boyfriend tugs her further down the hallway.

“And I can barely breathe

What a web we've spun-!” Aricka H and Steve grab the school flag and hold it between them; running and mowing down several of the zombie versions of their friends.

“Now the fear is takin' over me

No more tricks up my sleeve-!” Eddie and Dori finally find each other and begin their journey to the cafeteria as well.

“So sweet dreams, sleep tight

Watch my nightmares come to life-!” Nancy and Jonathan pair up and make their way up the tilted steps of the high school.

Artie runs into the school, where he ends up in the language arts room, “Got palpitations for days-!”

Robin looks at her friends, all with their own love interest, feeling left out; on the bubble, “I feel them floating away-!”

Eric runs into the art room, looks at the canvas he made of his family, “So much suspicion, division, a head-on collision-!”

Dori looks around at their family, “Which heart’s gonna break?”

Chrissy finally runs into Ralphie, clinging to him, “so many feelings inside-!”

Artie looks at his wrist, where a black ribbon was tied. “New ones that don’t wanna hide-!”

Heather glances around the pool, “I gotta listen, so here we go-Hit the ignition-!”

“I’m in for a ride-!” Dori exclaims.

“Nowhere left to run-!” Aricka runs into the drama room, where a throne sat, and it spun around to reveal a zombie version of her boyfriend Steve. She screams and runs away, as the zombie gave chase.

“Feel the shadows closin' in on me-!” Aricka M crooks her finger at flayed!Billy and as he gets closer, she pulls him closer and throws him into the closet, where she shut and locked the door before running to find her Billy once again.

“And I can barely breathe-!” Chrissy shut her own alternate self in the bathroom, running out to grab Ralphie’s hand.

What a web we've spun

Now the fear is takin' over me

No more tricks up my sleeve-!” Nancy and Jonathan locked several more zombies in the music room, before finding the others in the music library.

“So sweet dreams, sleep tight

Watch my nightmares come to life-!” The group finds themselves trapped as the zombie and flayed versions of their own selves come closer.

Flayed Billy crawls over to his normal self and Aricka, “the monsters in your mind-!”

“Scream louder all the time,” undead Chrissy added.

“You'll find they soon take over,” flayed Heather sang.

“The darkness starts to creep,” undead Eddie moves close to Dori.

“You're drowning in the deep-!” Zombie Steve, Chrissy and flayed Billy continue.

“It keeps on getting closer-!” Chrissy Eddie and Heather finish, before they all cover our heroes.

(We hear screaming and sounds of terror before we return to the cafeteria, where we see our heroes now zombies as well, where they join the chorus.)

“Nowhere left to run

Feel the shadows closin' in on me

And I can barely breathe (in on me)-!” The heroes, now zombies as well, couldn’t control their movements as they danced with the other zombies,

“What a web we've spun (what a web we've spun)

Now the fear is takin' over me (ooh)

No more tricks up my sleeve

So sweet dreams, sleep tight

Watch my nightmares come to life (come to life)-!”

End dream.

Steve shot up, breathing heavily as sweat trickled down his forehead. It was just a dream.

But it felt so real…

————————————

@astralshipper @rosieshipper @hyperionshipping @yeehawselfshipping @letsgofoletsgo @tsundere-selfship @callsign-revenge

(For reference ^^)

[arickaandherfictionalothers]

Aricka and Dori’s teen beach adventure- meant to be-!

Aricka was confused. One minute, she was on her way to talk to Steve Harrington- her favorite character from this move she was in-!- the next; she was falling into the arms of the other lead male of the movie- Billy Hargrove. The character Aricka Munson was supposed to fall for and help unite the bikers and surfers with-

Oh. No.

“Hi,” he says; helping her stand up. “I’m Billy. Billy Hargrove. Leader of the surfers.” He winks at her, but it didn’t really do anything for her.

“I, uh, hi,” she says, remembering her manners at least. “I’m Aricka Hopper.”

“A pretty name for a gorgeous chick,” he says. “Nice of you to drop in.”

“Um, sorry. I didn't see you.” She blushes, looks down at the ground. He tilts her chin up so she was looking back at those electric blue eyes.

“Now that you do, do you like what you see?” She squeaks and gently removed his hand from her chin.

“Sure. It was really nice to meet you- excuse me just a second-?” He nods and she runs over to Dori. “Dori, my best friend in the whole world, can I have a moment? A really quick, important moment.”

"Yeah, sure," they look back at Eddie, "Um... Eddie? It was really nice meeting you, but I've gotta help my friend with something," they start to turn away, but turn back for a second, "Bye." they give him a little wave as they start to walk with Aricka.

"Bye." He chuckles waving back.

"Come on," Dori says, guiding her friend to the exit, "We'll step out for a minute.” Once outside, she says, “"So, what's going on?"

Aricka takes a deep breath and glares at the water. “The mannequin with six rows of teeth just asked me out. Billy FREAKING Hargrove just asked me out because I TRIPPED on my dumb shoelaces and fell in his arms-.”

They stare at her, taking in everything she just said, "..... WHAT?!"

“Please tell me I didn’t change anything about the movie-?! I JUST wanted to talk to Steve. My shoe got untied and I didn’t see it until I was staring up into ocean blues instead of chocolate browns.”

"Okay. Okay, uhhh.... Hold on, let me think," Dori thinks back through the plot of the movie, "So, you said you ran into Billy and now he's got the hots for you. And, in the movie, Billy falls for Aricka MUNSON. So, that means..." their eyes widen in realization, "Oh... this is the exact opposite of what you wanted to hear, but you just caused a MAJOR change to the movie."

Aricka blanches. “I changed the movie-?!”

"You changed the movie!"

“Oh no. Oh no, no no no-!! No- can we fix this-?! Aricka Munson’s Billy’s EVERYTHING, we can’t ruin this-!”

"It's okay! Don't freak out," Dori tries to calm her down, "We can fix this... At least, I hope we can. We'd just have to get Billy to fall in love with the right Aricka. Which.... is probably gonna be REALLY difficult since he's convinced he's in love with you. But, I mean... we could probably do it."

“… meet Billy and me with Steve and Aricka Munson outside. We can fix this- hypothetically speaking.”

~~~~~

“Hi,” Aricka says; unable to believe she was talking to Billy- Aricka Munson should be doing this. Not her. She was basically being a homewrecker-!

Billy flashes her that boyish smile; and she couldn’t not admit that he had a cute smile. He just- wasn’t her type. She was into dorky brunette surfers. Not overconfident curly haired blue eyed ones. “Hi,” he says, strumming his guitar.

“Um, do you mind if I join you?” She asks, admiring the car he was leaning on- and he beckons her over.

“Of course not. I’d wanna join me, too.” So cute, in a 50s himbo style. “So, hey, I’ve never seen a chick quite like you.”

She winces; she hated being addressed as a chick or a babe. “Chick? Really? Hold on while I lay some eggs.”

He tilts his head in confusion. “Okay?”

She mentally face palms. “No, that was, um... Never mind. Thank you for the compliment. It’s nice.”

“Sure,” he says with a shrug. She notices the guitar and smiles; something they can talk about.

“So you play the guitar.”

“I know.” Ugh. Total, 1950s air-headed blonde surfer boy.

“No, no, I mean- are you good?”

He frowns in more confusion, “I feel a little tired but…” she cut him off,

“At playing the guitar?”

“Well, sure, when something inspires me.” He drops his voice suddenly, “If music be the food of love, play on”.

Her eyes light up, “Shakespeare-?”

“Huh? No, that was me. Sometimes I talk low for effect.”

“… well it works,” is all she could think to say.

“Thanks. I can do... High... Also, but chicks really dig low better,” and she had to hide a wince when he did his high voice.

“Yeah.”

“You know, I dig you, Aricka. You’re different than other girls around here. Can I write a song about you?”

“Uh, yes. What word rhymes with Aricka? Nothing. See? That’s a terrible song. Really, Tanner, you only like me because you, think that running into you was destiny, but... Not our destiny, your destiny, with someone that you’re meant to be with that isn’t me. See?” And then music begins to play and she sighs, “Oh, good. A song anyway.”

“I believe we all have a soul mate

The chance for a perfect duet…” Billy strums the guitar and looks her in the eyes, and she tries to match his emotion, but she had to pretend she was looking at Steve for it to even look natural,

“I believe in hopeless devotion

I just haven't found it yet

But in my mind I see

The chick, who is meant for me…” he dramatically tosses his guitar to the side and grabs her hand, dragging her off somewhere as he continues to sing,

“She'll be someone who is lovely

Someone wonderful and true…”

Meanwhile, with Dori, Eddie, Steve and Aricka, the latter girl was singing,

“The kind of boy who makes you smile

Even when you're feeling blue…”

Together though apart, Aricka Munson and Billy H sings,

“And I know, I know he/she's out there

Most definitely, oh yeah

Not a phony, or a fake

Sweeter than a chocolate shake

My "meant to be"

When it's meant to be

You go kinda crazy

Meant to be

You forget your own name

When it's meant to be

It's destiny callin'

And nothing ever will be the same!

Oh yeah!…”

Aricka stops in front of Billy, her hand on his chest as she sings out,

“You need a girl who's into music

To ride up high on Cupid's wings!”

Dori turns to Steve and adds, “Find that girl with perfect hair

Hello, Hollywood ending with strings-!”

Aricka and Dori sing about their respective love interests,

“Oh, I know, I know he's out there

Can't you see? Oh, yeah!

Maybe you've already met,

The one you'll never forget!

Your "meant to be"!

When it's meant to be!

The stars seem to glisten!

Meant to be!

All the clouds depart!

When it's meant to be!

That's destiny callin'!

And if you listen

You'll find your heart!”

The girls- Aricka H, Aricka M and Dori; all sing, thinking of the one they (thought they or actually did) love,

“Four eyes meet

And the meet is sweet

Could it lead to something more?”

Eddie; Steve and Billy echo them, thinking of their respective interests as well,

“What's the deal?

When the way you feel-?”

Dori and Aricka sing the last line; ripping the towel barrier away so Aricka M and Billy could see each other and Aricka and Steve could see each other-

“Oh!” Aricka M gasps, grabbing Steve’s hand and darting off.

“Gee..” Billy says as he grabs the other Aricka’s hand.

“Uh…?” Aricka manages before she’s dragged away.

“Plan B?” Dori wondered.

A dance break ensued; Steve and Aricka M together, Billy and Aricka H together, and to Dori’s delight, they were dancing with Eddie as they sang,

“When it's meant to be

You go kinda crazy

Meant to be

You forget your own name

When it's meant to be

It's destiny callin'

And nothing ever will be the same!”

The song ends and Aricka and Dori make their way back to each other. “… that didn’t go as well as I hoped…” Aricka says sheepishly.

“Don’t worry, we still have time to fix this. I’m gonna try and get invited to the surfer hang out , you get to the biker sleepover.”

“Okay. Deal.” And off they went on their separate ways.

~~~~~~~~

@astralshipper @rosieshipper @yeehawselfshipping @letsgofoletsgo @tsundere-selfship @callsign-revenge

[arickaandherfictionalothers]

Vetera et praesens (past and present)

Chapter One: An Unexpected Surprise

(Eventual Aricka x Caracalla, eventual Dori x Geta)

(Aricka and Dori are watching Gladiator II. What happens when two of their favorite characters fall into their living room-?)

“How did this happen?”

“I don’t know; the lights flickered; the movie flickered, and now they’re here-!”

Caracalla was the first to come to, and quickly realized that he wasn’t in the Imperial Box anymore- he was leaned against something- or someone. He looks up- into the bluest eyes he’d ever seen.

The owner of said blue eyes gasps, “oh, you’re awake! Emperor Caracalla, are you okay?” Their voice is soft; feminine. She helps him sit up, and he grips her hand.

“Yes- I’m just- where am I?” The girl bites her lip, a worried expression in her eyes.

“That’s… a bit complicated. But I promise you’re okay. You’re safe. Neither of us are going to hurt you or your brother.”

Geta was here-?

“Geta..?” He looks over and sees another lady with his brother; who had just woken; it seemed, helping him stand up and walk over to where he was.

Geta was still taking a minute to process what just happened, having gone quiet, twisting the ring on his left hand. Aricka noticed, from where she was helping Caracalla sit on the couch. She looks at her twin, “is he okay?” She mouths, motioning with her eyes to the younger twin emperor.

“I think he's in shock." They mouth to her. They look back at Geta, clearing their throat to get his attention. "Emperor Geta?"

He jumps slightly as he's pulled out of his thoughts. "Y-yes?" Dori gives him an assuring look.

"Why don't you sit down with your brother? Just take a minute."

He hesitantly nods and walks over to the couch. Dori gently helps him sit down. "I'm sure this is a lot for you two."

Aricka was sitting in Calla’s lap, the older twin having pulled her down into it, still a bit unsure but she smiles at Geta as assuringly as possible. “My name is Aricka. This is my younger, twin sibling, Dori.”

Caracalla runs a hand idly up and down her back. “That’s a pretty name.”

She blushes. “Thanks… I got it for my birthday.” He laughs- not unkindly- at her and she blushes.

“It was the perfect choice.” She smiles.

“Thank you…” she squeezes his shoulder carefully. “You’re safe here…we won’t let you get hurt…”

“We'll protect you...We'll be like your personal guards,” Dori was absentmindedly rubbing Geta’s shoulder, and it made Aricka smile to see him lean into her twin’s touch.

Caracalla leans his head against Aricka’s shoulder, his other arm wrapping around her. “We don’t have much of a choice but to trust you….”

“We will earn that trust. I assure you. She begins running a hand through his hair, and he leans into her touch, too, and it made her heart twist and flip flop.

“While I find your promise of our safety comforting," Geta says, "one thing still has me at unease...how exactly did we arrive here?"

Dori looks over at Aricka, "Well...we don't really know, ourselves."

Aricka shrugs. “I mean… this stuff usually doesn’t happen in our world. But I have an idea?”

The two boys look at her, waiting for her to continue.

“I mean… time travel is the best way I can think about it. But how you guys time traveled through the movie…”

“Movie?” Caracalla asks. She shares a panicked look with Dori, before relaxing and looking back at Caracalla.

“We were just watching a movie featuring the two of you. You were characters in it. It was based on your real lives.” He nods. “Dori and I really liked the two of you. I guess the movie decided to do something about it?”

"Yeah,” Dori agreed, “Maybe it decided that you two needed something good in your lives." They look over at Aricka, "And I guess that something was us."

The boys sit quietly for a moment, then Calla’s grip grew stronger around Aricka’s middle. “Now what?” A quiet question. Aricka wrapped her own arms around his neck, leaned so her lips brushed against ginger curls.

“Now-?” She grins, “Now, we teach you how modern life works.”

—————-

@astralshipper @rosieshipper @hyperionshipping @yeehawselfshipping @letsgofoletsgo

[arickaandherfictionalothers]

Time for another AU!

Vetera et praesens (past and present)

Main Characters:

Aricka and Dori- twin siblings who love the Gladiator II movie

Caracalla and Geta- the twin emperors and two of the main characters of the Gladiator II movie.

———————

Aricka and Dori are watching the gladiator II movie. Suddenly, the lights begin to flicker.

The room begins to shake.

And then-

The two characters they like the most pop out of the movie into their living room-!

What happens when Caracalla and Geta wind up at the end of the year 2024, having to work through the year 2025?

@astralshipper @rosieshipper @hyperionshipping @yeehawselfshipping @letsgofoletsgo @purifierkisser @callsign-revenge

[arickaandherfictionalothers]

Stranger Things Character Profile

Aricka Munson

Basics

Full name: Aricka Estelle Munson

Meaning: Aricka means eternal ruler” or “ever powerful”. Estelle means star. Munson is a pet form of the word Magnus which means great.

Nicknames: Stella, butterfly, baby, sweetheart, bright eyes, twin, sis, She-Ra, Adora,

Birthday: April 28th, 1967

Birth place: Fishers, Indiana

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Physical appearance and characteristics

Eye color: hazel-brown with flecks of blue

Hair color: brown but she dyes the ends of it different colors depending on her mood

Height: 5’3”

Dominant hand: her left hand

Notable features: her Mickey Mouse birthmark on her right elbow, her dimples, her freckles across the bridge of her nose and her cheeks

Jewelry: her ears are pierced, she has a helix piercing for her headaches, the top cartilage on her right ear is pierced. She loves wearing necklaces and bracelets and she has a few rings that she wears when she remembers to.

Accessories: a watch that belonged to her mom, she loves wearing beanies, she has glasses, instead of a purse she wears a small backpack.

Are they healthy: she’s as healthy as the average person in the 80s was.

Any allergies: she has a latex allergy, she has spring allergies- pollen, dust; etc.

Glasses: yes. She wears a pair of blue glasses that bring out the blue in her eyes.

Preferred hairstyle: she likes a pixie cut with bangs, her hair isn’t curly like her brothers’ are.

Skin tone: tan

Marks/scars: most of her scars come after the mess with the UpsideDown but here is a list of said scars:

Season one: her knees and hands get scraped up when she falls in the forest looking for Will, she gets a bloody nose from the fight against the Demogorgon

Season two: she falls and hits her head in the tunnels under the pumpkin patch, giving her a mild concussion, she gets cuts and scratches from shattered glass, mostly mild injuries this season

Season three: Aricka, along with Billy, Robin, Steve and Aricka Hopper are taken and tortured by the Russians who have been working under the Starcourt mall, in a search for answers about who they work for. She gains several bruises and cuts, as well as burns from the mall fire. She was also drugged and gets another mild concussion after falling in the elevator and hitting her head roughly against the door.

Chapter four: Aricka almost gets strangled by a demobat when it catches her off guard, she’s almost taken by Vecna but survives, she breaks her arm when she falls trying to get Max away from Jason carver.

Preferred clothing: she’s a rainbow of color, but also likes to have black clothing to even it out. She likes bright makeup and fun hair clips and has a collection of cute outfits she rotated through.

~~~~~~~~~~

Mannerisms

Speech style: she tends to speak faster than her brain forms the words, so she ends up stuttering and backtracking a lot. She gesticulates with her hands a lot when she’s talking; more so when she’s emotional or passionate about what she’s talking about.

Drives/motivation: she’s motivated by protecting her family, friends and loved ones. She would do anything to keep those she loves most safe.

Sense of humor: dark. She has a dark sense of humor, almost an existential sense of humor that is contrary to her bright personality.

Talents: she loves reading, writing and singing. She wants to either be a Broadway actress or a Disney voice actress someday.

~~~~~~~~~

This or that:

Private/public: she’s a private person. Being in public wears her out, she much prefers to spend time with her close circle of friends than go to a loud party.

Leader/follower: a bit of both. It depends on the scenario.

Daredevil/cautious: she can absolutely be a daredevil but when her family is on the line she is always super cautious.

Optimist/pessimist/realist: she’s an optimist and a realist. She can be super optimistic and look on the bright side but she also knows when to be realistic and to not get her hopes up.

Speaker/listener: both. She can talk and talk and fill up silence if needed but also she can be quiet as a mouse and listen to what her loved ones have to say.

Loud/quiet: both. Again she can be as loud or as quiet as the situation calls for.

Messy/organized; messy. This girl tries so hard to be organized but she just can’t keep herself organized to save her life.

Solo/team player: she’s a team player through and through. She knows she can’t do life on her own, she would much rather do it with a team.

Introvert/extrovert: she’s very introverted. Being in public wears her out and she doesn’t like how loud being in public can be.

Relaxed/serious: she’s a very relaxed person unless her family is in danger, then she’s serious.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Background:

Hometown: Hawkins Indiana, about a half hour from Kokomo, Muncie and Anderson Indiana.

Social class: lower-middle class, part of the blue collar class.

Education: she graduated from Hawkins and is currently fighting the UpsideDown but she does wanna go to college. Eventually. Someday.

First memory: meeting her best friend Chrissy Cunningham on the first day of kindergarten - they had the same backpack and wore the same Charlotte’s web shirt, and a friendship was cemented.

Worst memory: seeing her boyfriend Billy being beat by his dad when they were 18.

Best memory: kissing Billy Hargrove for the first time at the eighth grade dance when they were 13.

Most important childhood event/why: meeting Billy Hargrove on the swings in fourth grade. Because that’s when her whole life changed. And she met the boy who would later become her husband. Her soul mate. Her best friend for life.

Role models; her uncle Wayne, her older brother Eddie, Joyce byers, Jim Hopper, Claudia Henderson.

Where does she live and with whom: at the trailer park with her uncle Wayne and three brothers.

Where does she want to live: in California with Billy; Max and her and Billy’s future kids.

Type of childhood: happy. Safe. Loved.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Family:

Mom: Barbra-Anne Munson

Dad: Alan Munson

Siblings: three brothers: Eddie: Arthur and Ralph. She’s the second of four quadruplets.

Best guy friend/boyfriend/Husband: Billy Hargrove

Best girl friend: Chrissy Cunningham

Best friends: Aricka Hopper, Dori Henderson, Steve Harrington, Chrissy, Robin, Patrick, Eddie, Arthur, Ralph, Jonathan, Vicki, Gareth, Jeff and Grant

Favorite kid of the party: Max Mayfield-Munson

Any kids: several- Michael, James, Annabeth, BJ, Kevin, and Angela Munson.

Pets: a dog named Spike and a cat named Charlie.

~~~~~~~~~

@astralshipper @rosieshipper @hyperionshipping @yeehawselfshipping @letsgofoletsgo @tsundere-selfship @callsign-revenge

[arickaandherfictionalothers]

Aricka and Dori’s teen beach adventure: Meant to be reprise 1: Aricka and Billy

(Aricka Munson and Billy finally are back on track- in each other’s arms where they belong.)

Aricka waits on the beach for Steve Eddie and Dori all day. She begins to worry about them and then she sees a surfer boy walking up to her- the same surfer who she’d taunted days before when they were at Benny’s.

He was kinda cute- curly brown-blonde hair and dreamy blue eyes. “Hi,” she greets cautiously. He nods in her direction.

“Hey.” They stand together in awkward silence. “Who’re you waiting for?”

“Steve Dori and Eddie. They said they wanted to talk to me.”

“Huh. Aricka said the same thing- the other Aricka. Not you.”

“… is it fun? Surfing, I mean.” He laughs, startled by her question.

“I imagine it’s as fun to me as it sounds like ridding that bike is to you.” Her eyes widen in delight.

“Oh! So it’s exhilarating.” He tilts his head in confusion.

“I’m not sure what that means. But it’s very exciting and makes me happy!” Oh, she thinks. He’s so cute; and he’s trying so hard to make her smile.

“That’s what it means,” she says gently.

“Ohhh…” he nods. “I can learn new things- huh.”

“I could teach you how to ride a motorcycle,” she offers shyly.

Billy looks at her with wide eyed wonder. “Really?”

“Mhm. I’ve always wanted to surf too-,”

“I could teach you-!” He grips her hands and she feels a zing of electricity zap her spine. Music began to fill the air and she couldn’t resist the urge to sing,

“Oh, I know, I know, he’s out there
Most definitely…” Billy stares down at her with a look of familiarity- like he finally remembered something he’d forgotten about but didn’t know what. 
“Maybe you’ve already met
The one you’ll never forget…” and here they look at each other, hands reaching out, 
“You're meant to be…” Right as they were about to touch; a group of dancers separate them, spinning them into two separate dance groups.

Aricka stands up on a rock, “BILLY!” She calls. He sees her and runs to her; and right as she slips-

She falls into his arms as he catches her, one arm bracing her back, the other around her legs. 
“When it’s meant to be
You go kinda crazy…” he sets her down, follows her back up the rock she’d just fallen off. 
“Meant to be
You forget your name…” she spins and he pulls her in, her hands on his shoulders, his resting on her hips, 
“When it’s meant to be
It’s destiny callin’…” he lifts her up, and her hands cradle his face and neck as he slides her down into a dip, 
“And nothin’ ever will be the same!” Their foreheads bump, and they close their eyes. Relishing the feel of each other’s nearness. He stands her up, spins her around and pulls her back against him, her back against his chest, and they sway together.

Billy allows himself to press his chin into the soft spot where her neck and shoulder met, noting she smelled like sunscreen and orange juice.

He then jumps off the rock, Aricka skipping down as he runs to meet her, and right as they were about to kiss-

“Wait-!” He immediately stops in his tracks and waits for her to speak. “Something must be wrong- the others would’ve been here by now even if they’d been late. They must be in trouble-!”

He gasps, on the same track as her. “The weird lighthouse-,” they speak at the same time,

“Let’s go-!”

~~~~~~~~~~~

@astralshipper @rosieshipper @hyperionshipping @yeehawselfshipping @letsgofoletsgo @callsign-revenge @tsundere-selfship

[arickaandherfictionalothers]

Stranger Things fam in High School Musical

(Note: for this AU “Taylor” and “Ryan” are siblings and they get the “I want it all” duet.)

Troy Bolton: Steve H

Gabriella Montez: Aricka H

Sharpay: Chrissy Cunningham

Ryan: Eddie M

Kelsi: Dori

Chad: Billy Hargrove

Taylor: Aricka M

Zeke: Jonathan Byers

Jason: Patrick McKinney

Martha: Robin Buckley

Peyton: Will Byers

Tiara Gold: Max Mayfield

Rocket man: Mike

Donnie: Lucas

Mr. Danforth: Jim Hopper

Coach Bolton: Bob Newby

Lucille Bolton: Claudia Henderson

Ms. Darbus: Mrs. Sinclair

Ms. Montez: Joyce Byers

Vance Evans: Wayne Munson

Darby Evans: herself

Thomas Fulton: Mr. Sinclair

Dave Matsui: Mr Clark

Ms. Falstaff: Nancy

Jackie: Jane

Emma: Erica

Lea: Max

Boi: Dustin(in the role of their little brother)

@astralshipper @rosieshipper @hyperionshipping @yeehawselfshipping @letsgofoletsgo @tsundere-selfship @callsign-revenge

Part one: the start of something new, coming soon-!

[arickaandherfictionalothers]

The epic conclusion to their tale

(Aricka x Ricky Coogan)

(Aricka saves the day. As she should )

(Thank you Dori for the gif-! I hope you love our dialogue in this fic all fleshed out as well as we loved in when we first began it-!)

This was not how it was supposed to go. Aricka was supposed to be able to administer the cure to her friends, they would uprise against Skuggs, and they would be able to leave, and she would get to kiss Ricky finally.

But those two creepy eyeballs found her; snooping around trying to find a good spot for her backup plan, and she got caught.

Now, Aricka was tied to a chair; the same chair Ricky had sat in not too long ago, face masked with calm, trying really hard not to let anyone see how scared she is.

“Ricky will come for me - and you’ll be sorry.” She says, glaring at her captor- Elijah Skuggs himself. “Ricky HELP ME-!” She yelled, hoping he was in the near vicinity.

Elijah lets out a sinister chuckle, "I think you'll be the one who's sorry. See, now that I've got some more zygrot-24, I can finish my plan of turning that beast boy into the ultimate superfreak. And, y'know what, I think I might just turn you into a freak too. You care about them so much, you might as well join them."

“Even if you do, you won’t succeed in keeping us apart. I’ll still be me. I’ll just look different. And different isn’t taboo.” Internally; however; Aricka’s mind was screaming one thing- Ricky HURRY-!

“It will be, once I'm through. I forgot to mention that along with turning your little boyfriend into a superfreak, I plan on having him kill all the other freaks. They won't be any use to me anymore. And if you become a freak too... Well, you get the picture." He walks over to his machine and begins programming the zygrot-24.

Aricka’s face drains of color; she couldn’t let that happen to Ricky- she would rather die than let him be reduced to such a state.

Meanwhile, Ricky snuck into the lab, staying as quiet as possible. He cracks the door open, trying to see where Elijah is so he doesn’t get caught. His heart drops when he sees Aricka tied up.

"I'm gonna get you out of this, Aricka." he whispers to himself. He starts to slowly and carefully make his way over to her.

Aricka subtly reached for the vial of antidote tucked away in her pocket, knowing she would have to take it a soon as possible if she was affected by the machine.

Ricky finally reaches Aricka, tapping her shoulder to get her attention. Her eyes widen, full of hope and relief that he was there. He places his finger over his mouth, wordlessly telling her to keep quiet. He starts to saw at the straps with his claws.

"Don't worry," he says, barely above a whisper, but loud enough for Aricka to hear, "You'll be free in no time."

Aricka sags in relief as she sees him; heart racing as the reality set in-

“Hurry.” She whispered out of the corner of her mouth. “He- he wants me to become one of you guys- and then he wants you to kill all of us-,”

“I'm not gonna let that happen. I promise." He finished cutting one strap and moved on to the next.

Aricka flexes her hand and leans her head back against the chair. “How did you find me-?

“Well, uh..." Ricky blushes slightly, "according to Cow Boy, us freaks have telepathic bonds with our soulmates. Because of that, I was able to hear you call for me from the freak house."

Aricka stares at him for a moment before speaking “well- I could’ve seen it coming. “It would explain why I’m most protective of you-,”

Ricky chuckles, gazing lovingly at her "Yeah." he quickly snaps out of it to continue setting her free.

“Oh no-,” Aricka whimpered as she saw the man with the evil plan turn around- “Ricky-!”

Well, well, well," Elijah says, making Ricky stop in his tracks with a gasp, "The beast boy has come to save the day. Such a shame. You were so close." A wicked grin spreads across his face as he looks at the two of them, "Toad," he calls his assistant, "Take care of him, will ya?"

“NO-!” Aricka screams, jumping free from the seat and inserting the needle into Ricky’s thigh, believing with all her heart that it would work and it would save him. She pushed down the syringe and quickly pulled it back out once it was empty; whirling around and using the needle to stab Elijah. As soon as she’d stabbed him she brought her leg up to sharply kick Elijah in the chest, sending him careening backwards from her

Elijah pulls the syringe out of his arm. He glares at Aricka, "What did you do?!"

He looks over at Ricky, who looks over himself. Half of his body was still green, there were still claws at the end of his hand. He touches his face, felling that he was still a freak. The antidote didn't work, "Oh no..." Ricky looks at Aricka, "Nothing happened."

Elijah cackles, "Looks like your antidote still needs a little work. You'll never figure out how to turn them all back!"

Neither of them knew: however: that Aricka had a backup just in case this happened. “The thing about horror movies…” she says. “The hero always has a backup plan in store. DORI, ORTIZ, NOW-!”she looks over at the boy she loved more than anything else. “Just trust me Ricky-!”

Ricky looks back, eyes full of trust and love. "Always."

Aricka braced herself- she wouldn’t be affected by the antidote; she’d already accidentally splashed herself with this version and she hasn’t had any side effects- and that was two days ago.

But she was still nervous.

“You’re just a big bully- and the thing about bullies is that they never win. Someone bigger and stronger always comes along to put them back in their place. And now it’s your turn.”

“NO!" Elijah yells.

Dori and Ortiz activate the sprinkler system that they helped Aricka set up with the antidote a few days ago. It rains down on everyone in the lab.

Aricka runs forward, bracing her hands on his shoulders and using the strengths she had left to shove him back towards the goo-

And falls backwards to the ground, hitting her head as she does.

Ricky’s heart dropped to his stomach. "Aricka!" Ricky rushes over to her. He kneels down, cradling her head, "Aricka? Are you okay?!"

No response, as our resident heroine was currently unconscious. “Aricka?! Oh no!" His free hand, his left hand, moves to cradle her cheek carefully, as though she was the most precious gem.

“Ricky; pick her up and get her out of here-! It’s too dangerous for her while unconscious. We can take care of it from here.” Ortiz yelled, swinging down from the rafters, Dori right behind him.

Both of them were restored to their human forms, but nobody had time to revel in the changes.

Ricky looks at Ortiz, then back to Aricka. He looks down at Aricka, and when he sees his hand he realizes that he's now back to normal. He smiles, proud that Aricka's hard work paid off, but he'll have to celebrate later. For now, taking Aricka to safety was his first priority. He does as Ortiz says and takes her to the freak house.

Ortiz strolls over to Elijah, “You thought your twisted plan would succeed but you didn’t plan on a most intelligent plan by way of a genius inventor who would break your curse-!”

"Exactly," Dori says, joining Ortiz under the antidote, "You've lost, Skuggs! Now no one'll have to suffer being a subject of your crazy experiments."

“Dori, I propose we take this evil lowlife somewhere he can’t hurt anyone else. What do you think?”

“I think that's a wonderful idea." They rest their arm on Ortiz's shoulder.

“Excellent- how about we tie him up in the same chair that once imprisoned each of us? And then you can call the police.”

“I like the sound of that. Give him a taste of his own medicine.” The two of them work together to tie an unconscious Elijah to the chair, and then they run to call the authorities and go check in their friends

~~~~~~~~Meanwhile~~~~~~~~

Aricka lay on the floor of the freak house, still as could be. Not moving an inch. Looking like a real live sleeping beauty.

“What happened to her?" the bearded lady asks, placing a pillow under Aricka's head.

"She got knocked out trying to save me from Elijah turning me into a superfreak," Ricky brushes a strand of hair away from her face, "He was going to turn her into a freak too. I'm glad he didn't get the chance to. Though, of course it wouldn't have changed my feelings for her if she did get turned." He didn’t take his eyes off of her still-sleeping form. She continued to breath; slowly and evenly.

"You two really are soulmates, huh?"

"Yeah, we are." Ricky smiles.

A soft groan escaped the girl laying on the ground, and her fingers twitch slightly as she begins to wake up. Ricky gasps. He holds onto her hand, "Aricka?"

“Mm..” blue eyes flutter open and she looks up to see- “Ricky- ow-!” She squeezes his hand as tight as she could, but in her current condition it wasn’t very much.

"Hey!" he brings her hand up to he lips, kissing her knuckles, "You had me so worried for a minute. Just take it easy for a bit, okay?"

“… my head- ow,” her lip trembles and she shuts her eyes again. “I think I’m potentially concussed-? Ow..”

Ortiz (followed by Dori) runs in then, “The cops are on their way, Sockhead and Cowboy are watching Skuggs.”

“Good. But I think we're gonna need an ambulance too. Aricka might have a concussion."

"Oh no!" Dori gasps, her and Ortiz rush to Aricka's side, "Make sure she stays awake, Ricky."

“Dori, Ortiz - okay?” Aricka asks, holding up a weak thumbs up. “Miss Bearded Lady ma’am, you should go- I made an antidote if you want it- it’s a shower version in the lab.”

“Yes, you must stay awake, Aricka. If you’re concussed then you might make it worse.”

The bearded lady nods. She looks back at the other freaks, "Alright. Everyone head to Elijah's lab. This may be our only chance to get back to our old selves." All the other freaks head to the lab, leaving Ricky, Dori, and Prtiz to tend to Aricka.

“Ricky help me sit up, I’ll lean against you if you want but I need to sit up. I’m concussed not dying.” Her words made him chuckle softly, simply replying,

“Okay. Here," he helps sit Aricka up, wrapping his arm around her shoulders to help support her, "Is that okay?"

Aricka nods, leaning her full weight against him- and then she realizes. “Ricky…?” She whispered.

She can’t even say it cause she’s scared if she does it’s a dream.

“Yeah?” Ricky leans in closer to hear her.

“You-,” she moved so she can see his face. “Oh- it worked-! The antidote-! Our idea worked-!”

"It did," he smiles, "Look. It worked for Dori and Ortiz too."

Aricka turns to look at her friends- “You guys-!” She exclaims. Her eyes well up with tears and she pressed her face back against Ricky. Relief was the most powerful thing she felt in that moment

She was SO worried it wouldn’t work. Ricky comfortingly rubs Aricka's arm, "See? I knew you wouldn't let us down." he kisses her temple.

“You saved us all, we all knew you would.” Dori says, smiling at their friend.

Aricka wipes her eyes. “He almost hurt you all- I was almost too late- all cause I got caught-!”

“Hey," Dori places their hand on her shoulder, "It's not your fault that that happened, okay? You were still able to save us in the end. You should be proud of yourself. I know we are."

Aricka looks between the three of them. She takes a deep breath. “Are you guys all okay? Like - the antidote didn’t hurt you or anything-?”

“It tickled slightly, but other than that I feel good as new,” Ortiz says

Aricka smiles; looking at him properly for the first time.

“Your eyes are- brown,” she whispered. “I couldn’t see them under all your hair,” she admitted. Ortiz nods and smiles,

“You have the most beautiful blue eyes, yourself,” he says.

And then she looks at Dori “Spider-Kid-!” She exclaimed. “I love your hair. It’s so fun!”

Dori laughs, "Thanks," they think to themself for a second, "Man, it feels good talking without those fangs being in the way."

And then Aricka looks at Ricky. She stares at him for the longest time, not saying a word. Her hand creeps up to touch the right side of his face, and she smiles at him sweetly. “Yep. Still the most handsome guy. Beast boy or not.” His hair was back to being curly and brown, trimmed right over his ears. His whole face was pink and smooth again, so was his arm and she assumed his back as well.

Ricky cradled her face in his own hand, drinking in every little detail of her face. He would spend the rest of his life indebted to the girl in his arms.

Ortiz smiles at Dori, saying to them, “they do look exquisite don’t they.”

"You're one to talk, dog boy," Dori says, "I think you look exquisite too."

Ortiz shakes his head and smiles at them. “Sure; sure; Spider-love.”

Aricka places her other hand on the left side of Ricky’s face- feeling the soft smooth skin were just hours before there had been scales. She wouldn’t lie and say she wouldn’t miss it- but she was so glad Ricky was smiling again. He was much happier as a human than as a beast boy.

“My Ricky.” She whispered, echoing what she’d declared not that long ago.

Ricky places his hands over hers, "My Aricka." he whispers back. Whispering what his heart knew all along; what his head was too afraid to speak.

“.. still my beast boy?” She asks teasingly. He rolls his eyes but nevertheless he responds,

“Of course I am. Trust me, it feels AMAZING being human again."

She swiped her thumbs across his cheekbones, “sorry if this is weird but-,” she couldn’t find the words to explain it. She knew what Ricky had looked like before. But now it was like she was afraid to blink or even look away- she didn’t want to forget a single detail of his face.

“No, no,” Ricky whispered, as if unable to speak any louder. “I know exactly how you feel.” And it was true. The girl in his arms was solid, real, the very person who’d saved his life just hours before. “Aricka.. I-,”

“Yes, Ricky?” She says, almost breathless.

Throwing all caution to the wind; Ricky says, “I love you. I can’t be without you anymore. The last few weeks proved that we’re better together than apart. I need you. Be mine?”

Aricka’s eyes, full of love and adoration, spill over with tears. “Richard Devan Coogan, I would be delighted, honored and OVERJOYED to be yours.”

Ricky let out a breathless, “oh, YES-!” Before leaning forward to kiss her softly, gently; and of course, lovingly, for the first- but not the last- time.

Ortiz gives Dori a knowing Look. “A tale as old as time itself, isn’t it.”

“One that keeps on going. One that will never end,” Dori asserted.

And indeed, it truly hasn’t ended.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

@astralshipper @rosieshipper @hyperionshipping @letsgofoletsgo @yeehawselfshipping @tsundere-selfship @callsign-revenge

[arickaandherfictionalothers]

Aricka and Billy relationship timeline

(Trigger warnings: child abuse; Neil going to jail; pregnancy mentions, Vecna almost kills them several times.)

March 29, 1967- Billy is born

April 28th, 1967- Aricka and her three brothers are born

July 1977- Neil upheaves his family- wife Susan, stepdaughter Max and son Billy- to Indiana.

August 23, 1977- Aricka Munson and Billy Hargrove become friends on the first day of school. They’re fourth graders.

October 1978- Aricka finds out that Neil is abusing Billy for the first time. He makes her promise to not tell anyone but he also agrees to let her patch him up when it gets really bad.

September 1981- Billy and Aricka kiss for the first time at the fall dance. He also asks her to be his girlfriend. They’re 14 years old.

November 6, 1983- Will Byers goes missing and Billy and Aricka find themselves in the thick of the UpsideDown chaos. They’re 16 now.

The entirety of 1984- Billy and Aricka are fighting double the trauma now- Aricka with her secret regarding Billy and the UpsideDown. Billy and his secret and the UpsideDown. They help free Will from the Mindflayer and try to keep themselves and Max safe from Neil’s wrath.

March-July 1985- Freshly graduated from high school, Aricka and Billy get jobs- Billy takes two to save for an apartment for him Aricka and Max, and Aricka gets a job at Scoops with Steve and Robin- this is also the second job Billy has. His first is a lifeguard job. The Mindflayer briefly possessed Billy but they figure it out and free him. Billy, Aricka, Steve and Aricka Hopper are taken and tortured by the Russians and get injured in the battle of Starcourt.

August-September 1985- Billy, who sustained the worst of the injuries, heals from his injuries, and prepares to ask Aricka to marry him.

October 1985- the catalyst for Neil’s arrest occurred. Aricka hears a scream from his trailer and calls the cops, and Jim Hopper arrests Neil and takes him to jail.

December 1985- Billy asks Aricka to marry him.

January 1986- the trial begins. Aricka and Billy start having worse nightmares about the UpsideDown and the memories of Neil’s influence.

February 1986- Aricka and Billy elope with Aricka Hopper, Dori Henderson, Eddie Munson and Steve Harrington as witnesses. Billy takes Aricka’s last name.

March 1986- Billy and Aricka almost are the first victims of Vecna’s curse. They figure out music helps but don’t understand the why of the music helping. Chrissy, Patrick, Max and Nancy also nearly fall victim but survive. Others weren’t so lucky. They manage to kill Vecna and close the UpsideDown for good.

Summer of ‘86- Aricka and Billy officially adopt Maxine Mayfield. After a long year of fighting she becomes their official legal ward. They’re 19, Max is 15.

November 6th of ‘86- Michael Munson is born, 7 lbs 3 ounces

June 18th of ‘88- James Derek Munson is born, 6 lbs 4 ounces

Spring 1989- Aricka ,along with her best friend Aricka Harrington, is cast in her first movie-! A Disney movie called “the little mermaid,” and she voiced Adella, one of the older sisters of the main character Ariel. Aricka Harrington voiced Arista, another mermaid sister of Ariel.

May 1989- Max, Jane, Will, Mike, Dustin and Lucas graduate from Hawkins High School. Dustin is the valedictorian, Max is the salutatorian; all six kids are in the top ten of their class.

November 17th, 1989- the little mermaid is released in theaters! It was a blockbuster film and her family and friends were so proud of her for achieving her dreams.

July 4th 1990- Annabeth Crystal Munson is born, 8 lbs 4 ounces. The first daughter of Aricka and Billy Munson.

November 22, 1991- Aricka is in her second Disney film alongside Aricka Harrington- she was Plumette the feather duster and Aricka Harrington is one of the three silly girls who was obsessed with Gaston!

March 22, 1992- for some reason, a portal from the UpsideDown opens. A child version of Billy falls out of the portal and Aricka and Billy decide to adopt him and they nicknamed him BJ.

May 19th 1992- the portal opens a second and final time and two boys and a girl fall out of it- and Aricka and Billy welcome Kevin into their home. Aricka and Billy are now 23. Max is 19.

August of 1992- Aricka and Billy help Max move into her dorm at college- Indiana Wesleyan, she’s studying a degree in social work to become an advocate for kids like herself and Billy.

February 21 1993- Angela Raine Munson, a surprise baby, is born. 8 lbs and 8 ounces. She is also the last baby born to Aricka and Billy Munson.

~~~~~~~~~~~

@astralshipper @rosieshipper @hyperionshipping @yeehawselfshipping @letsgofoletsgo @tsundere-selfship @callsign-revenge

[arickaandherfictionalothers]

Our invisible string… that lead me to you

(Aricka x Steve)

Green was the color of the grass

Where I used to read at Hawkins Park

I used to think I would meet somebody there…

Aricka had her legs tucked under her on the bench she was sitting on, brown strands of hair blowing in her face as she skimmed a page of her book- Little Women. She didn’t usually like this genre of books, but she had to write an essay on it for her English class. She grabbed her highlighter and ran it over a line in the story, tucking her hair behind her ear.

Fifteen minutes later, she packed her bag and headed home; not knowing that a boy would take her spot; and crack open the same book she’d just been reading, and would highlight the same thing she had.

Royal blue was the color of your shirt

When you were nineteen at the ice cream shoppe

You used to work at to make a little money…

Steve sighed and wiped the back of his hand across his forehead; he had been working 12 hours straight at the new ice cream shop in town- Scoops Ahoy!-and he was exhausted. A new customer entered as he groused internally, and his heart almost stopped when he saw who it was- Aricka Hopper, the daughter of the police chief. She was pretty; chocolate brown hair, stormy blue eyes that pulled you in with the first look, and a smile that lit up every room she entered.

Steve had a hopeless crush on her; he’d always been too shy to approach her; instead preferring to admire her from afar.

Robin threw her hat at him; “Hey dingus; maybe while you’re drooling over your crush; could you ring up her ice cream order-?” He blushes furiously as he scrambled to the counter, to the cash register where Aricka was standing; oblivious to what had just been exchanged; a sweet smile on her face- aimed right at Steve. He blushed even more; and managed to stumble through asking her her order and then, when she handed him her cash, their fingers brushed; and he thought he was going to vomit from nerves and giddy ecstasy.

He was a goner; a fool in love with the daughter of the police chief.

Time, curious time

Gave me no compasses, gave me no signs

Aricka and Steve were two planets, constantly orbiting each other; seeming doomed to never collide. But they would; they just had to wait until it was the right moment, like all truest loves had to.

Were there clues I didn't see?

Along the way they would meet: words would be exchanged, but nothing substantial would occur. Steve couldn’t quite get over his hopeless, endearing awkwardness around her; and Aricka was just old-fashioned enough to want the boy to make the first move, so nothing ever happened in high school.

And isn't it just so pretty to think

All along there was some

Invisible string

Tying you to me?

Ooh

Time would pass, they would graduate, and Aricka would move to California as part of her friends, Dori Henderson and Eddie Munson’s, band. Long Live The Outcasts! they called themselves, and they started as a small garage band, yes, but seemingly overnight they became a sensation, and everyone was buying their first album.

Steve nearly broke his vinyl and cassette tape versions of it; just to hear Aricka’s solo in the third song. She sounded like an angel; he couldn’t get enough of it.

Bad was the blood of the song in the cab

On your first trip to LA

You ate at my favorite spot for dinner…

Steve eventually left Hawkins as well; he took Robin with him; and they moved to LA, citing a fresh start away from the gossip of Hawkins; Indiana. He played LLTO’s album all the way there; and anytime he heard the voice of his first and only crush’s voice he cranked up the volume just a little bit more.

And eventually he ran into Aricka, in a little dive bar not far from the apartment him and Robin shared. She still smiled just as sweetly as he remembered, and she still was able to send a zing of electricity down his spine when their fingers not only touched, but interlocked as they walked down the boardwalk.

And then he finally got the courage to ask the girl of his dreams on a date; and he whirled her around when she said yes, overjoyed to finally hear him ask her.

Bold was the waitress on our three year trip

Getting lunch down by the lakes….

She said I looked like an American singer…

Three years after that fateful reunion; they were at dinner, and the waitress commented on how Aricka looked familiar, but Aricka just giggled and waved her away, before reclaiming Steve’s hand and smiling adoringly at him; and he could only kiss her for it.

Time, mystical time

Cuttin' me open, then healin' me fine…

Steve still had nightmares- his father was not exactly Dad of the Year material; he had the scars to prove it- but now Aricka was there; pulling him from the dark and into her arms, soothing him with a song and a kiss, promising she would never leave him, never hurt him, that she loved him and she would always be there for him.

Were there clues I didn't see?

And isn't it just so pretty to think

All along there was some

Invisible string

Tying you to me?

Ooh….

They loved to dance together; and soon, they were spinning slowly in a gazebo; a sparkling diamond engagement ring on ar Aricka’s left hand as her newest solo song played overhead,

“A string that pulled me

Out of all the wrong arms right into that dive bar

Something wrapped all of my past mistakes in barbed wire

Chains around my demons, wool to brave the seasons…” she sang along, words for Steve only; words they’d penned together, words she sang and words he’d made the accompaniment for.

“One single thread of gold tied me to you

Cold was the steel of my axe to grind

For the boys who broke my heart

Now I send their babies presents…” he kissed her as she finished the verse; she was too breathless to finish when he was done.

Gold was the color of the leaves

When I showed you around Hawkins Park…

Finally they made it back to the park where they had both read Little Women all those years ago. It was autumn; and they were bundled snuggly in warm clothes, and they each had their copy of Little Women. They sat on the bench, and they opened their books and began to read.

Aricka laughed when she found the spot she’d highlighted, and showed Steve.

His eyes widen, and he flips a few pages further into his book, and shows her the same highlighted spot in his own copy-

““Love casts out fear, and gratitude can conquer pride.””

Hell was the journey but it brought me heaven

Time, wondrous time

Gave me the blues and then purple pink skies…

And now; the sweet shy sheriff’s daughter and the handsome, shy “King of Hawkins High”; now they have each other, which is all they ever wanted. The comets finally collided, and the resulting explosion was a beautiful combination of patience and hope.

And it all began in Hawkins Park with a shared book, and a homework assignment.

And it's cool, baby, with me

And isn't it just so pretty to think

All along there was some

Invisible string

Tying you to me?

~~~~~~

@astralshipper @rosieshipper @hyperionshipping @yeehawselfshipping thanks for Dori-!!! @letsgofoletsgo @tsundere-selfship @callsign-revenge

[arickaandherfictionalothers]

In another life…

(Modern!Aricka x Bill S Preston, Esquire)

(Thanks Dori (@yeehawselfshipping) for helping me with Bill’s dialogue-!)

It had been two weeks since Bill and Ted’s most excellent time traveling adventure. Ted was able to stay in school at San Dimas with Bill, but the latter was working through a most confusing issue- he missed his princess. Joanna had come to the future with Rufus to be with Ted, but their time traveling mentor had said that Bill’s future was in the present- whatever that meant. Currently; he was at the library, looking for a book to potentially lose himself in for a while. Maybe a new hobby would take his mind off of the most beautiful princess he’d ever seen.

“Beg your pardon, shining knight.. may I interest you in this one?” He was pulled from his thoughts by a voice to his left- and that was funny; did the voice call him a shining knight? Cause that’s what his princess had called him. “It’s about a knight traveling back in time to save his beloved princess when it turns out the girl of his was in the future with him all along. It’s called Once Upon a Time Traveler.”

"Whoa cool! That almost sounds like what happened to...." he looks up at the girl, "me..." He takes in her features, realizing, "No way... Aricka?"

The girl- Aricka- tilts her head questioningly. “Yeah? We’ve been in the same classes since kindergarten. I’m surprised you know my name. You’re Bill S Preston, Esquire right? And your friend is Ted Theodore Logan, and together you’re,”’and she does the air guitar motion, “Wyld Stallyns?”

Not only did she know his name, but she knew Ted, AND she knew that he was in a band-?! "Yeah! We are Wyld Stallyns! How did you know? We aren't even famous yet."

She giggles; and the sound was like a most perfect melody. “Just a guess. That and you sometimes sit by my lunch table- I can hear you talk about it. It sounds most splendid. Do you like medieval times too?” He nods, turning to fully face her, elaborating,

"Most definitely! Ever since Ted and I went there, it's become one of my favorite time periods."

Aricka tilts her head. “Went there-?”

He waffles for a minute, “The history book was so interesting if felt like we actually went there.”

Aricka stares at him for a moment, but then she says, “Once upon a time traveler is my favorite book currently… but I also really love grimm’s fairy tales.”

"Grimm's fairy tales?" he thinks for a second, "Oh yeah. I think my english teacher's mentioned those dudes before."

Aricka nods her head, “Yeah, Cinderella. Snow White. It’s where we get so many of our Disney movies.” Aricka blushed. “A bit childish but it’s a comfort.”

Bill nods, “That's cool. Disney movies can be most comforting." He was fond of “The Goofy Movie,” himself.

“Do you have a favorite book?” Aricka asks; and he then notices the stack of books she was carrying. She was a bookworm, then. He could dig that. Smart girls were cute.

"Uh, not really. But that time traveller book you mentioned seemed pretty neat." Her eyes lit up; and she hands him her copy, saying,

“Go ahead and take it, I’ve read it twice already.”

"Thanks, babe," he takes the book, his hands brushing hers slightly, "That is most generous of you." An electric shock went through his arm at her touch, and a feeling of warmth was left behind as he pulled the book closer to him.

Aricka felt a strange feeling of dejavu when he touched her hand, and she blushed at his compliment. “Just wanting to inspire a new reader,” she says softly. “Maybe it’s something Ted would like too? Give it to him when you’re done. I’m okay loaning my personal copy.”

“Your personal copy-? Oh babe, that’s way generous, and most kind of you. I totally insist on finding a way to repay the favor.”

She giggles, and he noticed that her face had a pink tinge now. She ducks her head, and looks back up; only a bit shyer now. “Maybe when Wyld Stallyns has their first gig, I could be in attendance?” He nods.

“Most definitely. Front row seat, babe. Also, I’ll walk you to your next class, if you want.”

“I want,” she agreed. “And maybe if you like, we could get together after school and we could read the book together?” Bill nods and holds the door to the library open as he says,

“Oh, babe. That sounds like a most excellent idea.”

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

*time skip: two weeks after their first meeting*

“What did you think about the knight revealing his secret? I never see it coming.” It had been a few weeks since Aricka had first loaned Bill her copy of Once Upon a Time Traveler. Bill had been hooked from the first page, and he had only put it down to eat; sleep; or attempt to pay attention in class.

Paying attention was easier if Aricka and Ted and Dori were in the same classes with him; he discovered. They helped him focus better.

"It was a most excellent twist. I was hoping the dude was gonna tell the princess eventually." Aricka smiles; a wistful sigh escaping her.

“Brigham and Annalise are the cutest couple I’ve ever read about…” she sighs, her smile fading to a frown. He noticed, however, and nudged her arm.

"What is it?" She shrugs.

“Guess I always dreamed about finding my own Brigham. Someone who traveled through time itself to find me. Who risked returning to his own time to be with me.”

Bill thinks for a moment, making a decision to tell Aricka the truth, "Well... you're in luck, babe. Cause I'VE traveled through time!"

Aricka’s eyes snap up to him. “Wha- really?! What was it like? Did you- did you actually meet a princess? Was that the REAL ABRAHAM LINCOLN at your presentation-?!”

Her questions were expected, and he was ready to answer all of them, "It totally was the real Abe Lincoln, babe! And it just so happens that me and Ted did get a chance to meet some beautiful princesses. We tried to save them from getting married to these two royal ugly dudes, but we ended up almost getting beheaded. It was a most terrible turn in our adventure. But, luckily, our two historical friends rescued us and we were able to go and get more historical figures and finish our report."

“Wow… I bet they were the most beautiful girls..” Aricka said. Knowing she could never compare to a real princess. It also explained the sudden appearance of Joanna; the new girl in school. “Did they talk all romantic and pretty?”

"Oh, their speech was most regal. But, y'know...” he taps his knuckles against the table they were sitting at, “you remind me of one of the princesses I met. You look a lot like her, and you kind of act like her too. Maybe she's your ancestor or something!"

Aricka’s face went scarlet at those words, covering her mouth and looking at the book in front of her.

Bill wished he could erase her insecurities from her mind, she was too beautiful to doubt herself.

“I- there’s no way I’m related to a genuine princess. That would make me in some way royal. I’m just a book nerd who hides in the back of the class. I’m not- a time traveling knight like you, Bill.” Aricka’s words slow as she says the last phrase, dots beginning to connect in her mind-

A girl in the future

A time traveling boy

A princess who tells the knight to open his heart to another

“Wait a minute….” She gently wiggled the book away from Bill, flipping to the pages of pictures.

“Annalise and her beloved knight Brigham… Annalise has short brown and and eyes as blue as sapphires. Brigham with his sunshine curls and piercing eyes, looking like a golden cherub.” Aricka looks at Bill. “What did your princess look like?”

"Uh, she had short brown...hair. And..." Bill looks at Aricka, "And blue eyes...." a smiles creeps up on his face, "There's no way!"

“… And the girl who waits for Brigham in the “future…” Aricka flips a few pages. “Aurora. Short, brown hair, bright blue eyes. Quiet, hides in the back of the class so she doesn’t gain the attention of bullies… but has a deep love of reading.” She sits back, her whole world rocked on its axis. “No way….” Aricka stares at the book, the book that had given her so much solace as a lone high schooler. “… it’s me,” she whispered. “I’m Aurora. Aren’t I.”

"You most definitely are. So that makes me Brigham."

“Most certainly…” she whispered. Still staring a hole through the book. Bill itched to reach out and hold her hand, an urge he’d been trying to hide for a while. He’d been developing a bit of a crush on Aricka for a while now, but he’d also been putting together what Rufus had been implying-

Aricka- his future- was in the present with him right now. He was supposed to find her here. Not in the past.

“Well, my princess,” he says with a teasing grin. “This is a most triumphant discovery.”

“It is…” Aricka says, smiling shyly at him, and then they both notice that their hands are brushing each other’s. They look up, and Bill notices that once again, the pink tinge is back on Aricka’s cheeks-

And he slides his hand under hers, flipping it over to intertwine their fingers, squeezing gently.

He leans forward…. So does she… Bill closes his eyes… she does too-

And then Ted and Dori burst into the library. “DUDES-!” Ted exclaimed. “I just was reading the book Aricka was talking about- dude she’s your PRINCESS-!”

Both Aricka and Bill jolt back at the interruption, and now Aricka’s face wasn’t just pink, but full on scarlet again. Bill sighs and scrubs his face. “Shut UP, Ted,” he says.

“Um…”’Dori pulls her brother back toward the door. “I think we barged in at a most uncomfortable moment, Ted. Apologies Bill.”

No offense to Dori, but Bill didn’t even hear them, he was already kneeling in front of Aricka, making sure she wasn’t too embarrassed. “You okay, princess?” He asks. She nods.

“I- I’m sorry if- if that felt so rushed-,” she whispered.

“What- you mean this-?” And he leans forward to kiss her cheek. She tilts her head at him. “What?”

“You missed, my knight.” The nickname felt right, to both of them.

“Apologies, princess. That was most rude of me. How can I ever be forgiven?” She giggles, flooding his ears with music, and she says,

“Like this,” and leans down to kiss him, properly.

He smiles, right against her lips, and puts his hand on the back of her neck, pulling her closer. She ends up falling into his lap, both of them giggling in surprise.

When she leans back, he brushes her hair from her face. “A most happy ending, wouldn’t you agree?” Aricka brushed her hand through his curls.

“No Bill. It’s not an ending.” He tilts his head this time. “It’s just the beginning.”

~~~~~~~~~~

@yeehawselfshipping @letsgofoletsgo @rosieshipper @hyperionshipping @callsign-revenge

[arickaandherfictionalothers]

I’d fight anyone for you

(Aricka x Ricky)

(After Ricky gets upset when someone insults him, Aricka comforts her best friend.)

(Best friend shoutout to Dori aka @yeehawselfshipping for being so amazing as always, for helping with Ricky’s dialogue and making me a gif just for this fic! You mean the world to me, I’m so blessed to know you.)

Aricka helped Ricky sit down, braced her hands on his arms. The night went from great to terrible in the time it takes to take a breath. Ricky was called something that hurt him. Resulting in him losing his temper and- well- accidentally beheading someone. But it wasn’t on purpose. He didn’t expect it to happen. And now they were dealing with the fallout.

“Ricky he was lying, just breathe, it’s okay. It’s me; it’s Aricka; just calm down, honey. It’s okay.” She soothes, rubbing her arms up and down his shoulders.

But Ricky wasn’t hearing it.

"IT'S NOT OKAY!" Ricky yells. He tries to steady his breathing, but he's too worked up at the moment, "He wasn't lying! I mean, LOOK AT ME!"

“Ricky he doesn’t MATTER-!” She exclaimed. “To the people who love you IT DOES NOT MATTER what you look like. I’ve told you that.” She grips his hands. “I keep telling you that. To me, you are perfect. I could care less what you look like. I’m more interested in your health, if you’re safe if you’re happy, not if you look like you stepped off the cover of a model magazine.” He was still struggling to grasp his control, but she kept speaking, “What if our roles were reversed? Hm? What if it was me in your place. Would you- would you let them treat me like they’re treating you? That’s why I’m upset. He called you something false and you’re upset about it and I can’t do ANYTHING about it. You need to take a step back and BREATHE, Ricky.” She touches his face, wiping some of the goo from his eyes. It stuck to her hands but she could care less.

Ricky tries to do as Aricka says. He takes longer, albeit shaky breaths. As his anger starts to fade, tears begin to well up in his eyes. He buries his face in his hands, falling to his knees. His breaths turning into sobs.

Aricka’s hands clench into fists briefly before wrapping her arms around him, sinking to her knees to hold him better. “It’s okay,” she whispered. The heat gone from her voice. “You’ve been put through something terrible and everything is upside down and I’m so sorry. I wish it was me in your place. You didn’t mean anything, I know you didn’t. I’m on your side Ricky. I’d fight anyone for you. Just take a minute and breath. It’s okay.”

Ricky rests his head on her shoulder, letting more tears fall before he speaks up again, "As much as I hate this," he takes a shaky breath before he can continue, "I'm glad it happened to me and not you. I don't know what I would've done if Elijah turned you into a freak instead."

“You’d have fought to protect me like I am right now-,” she whispered, her hand in his hair, the other wrapped around his middle. “Cause it’s us. And we fight for each other. You’re my dearest friend Ricky, and I hate seeing you so upset. I wish I was any closer to finding an antidote.” She felt a sense of loathing as she realized the longer Ricky was like this the more despondent they both felt.

Aricka was about five minutes away from marching right up to Elijah and giving him a piece of her mind. Consequences be screwed. “Ricky..” she whispered. Unsure of what else to say. “We can’t give up.”

"I know," he sighs, "I know."

“… so what now?”

"I'm not sure. Guess we keep trying to figure out how to make an antidote? We can go back to the shed, talk with the others, and see if we can come up with anything."

“Okay.” She nods. Hugs him one more time. “I’m going to fix this. I keep my promises. It’s going to all be over soon.”

“I know you will.”

“Okay then. Let’s go find the others and get some sleep. You look exhausted- you need to sleep.”

"I am exhausted," he gives a weak chuckle, "After, y'know... what just happened."

“So we talk, we plan; I leave, you sleep. Four things.. simple enough. We can’t risk Elijah finding me this late in the game.”

Ricky sighs, "Okay."

“I’ll be here first thing in the morning. With a trial of my antidote.”

"Alright. And be careful working with that stuff, okay? I don't want anything happening to you while you're trying to save us."

“I always wear my protective gear. I’m safe. I’m even wearing safety goggles OVER my glasses.”

"That's good to hear."

“You’re worth the slight fuzziness the giggles give my vision.”

They share a laugh- the best sound she’d heard all day; Ricky laughing after what he just went through- and she helps him stand. “I’m here. Always.”

“I know you are. And believe me, you make this situation a lot easier to handle than if you weren’t here.” She takes his hand- the left hand- and they make their way to the freak house, where the others were waiting. They talk for a while; and soon Ortiz and Ricky were sneaking her out of the house to her car, making sure she was safe from prying eyes, then heading back for the night.

Tomorrow would be a day of challenges. They would need all the sleep they could get.

~~~~~~

@astralshipper @rosieshipper @hyperionshipping @letsgofoletsgo @tsundere-selfship @callsign-revenge

[arickaandherfictionalothers]

When the dust settled

(Aricka x Ricky Coogan)

(Aricka frantically searches for Ricky not knowing that he’s just as frantically looking for her.)

(Thank you Dori for the dialogue for Ricky Ortiz and yourself-!!!!!!!)

(Credit: @yeehawselfshipping -!)

————————

It was over. Aricka had created an antidote that would turn the “freaks” back into humans. But now she couldn’t find the one who was the reason she had made it- and she was getting scared.

“Ricky-? RICKY-?!” She frantically scouts the room for him. “Has anyone seen Ricky?” She finds the former bearded lady and repeats her question, and they put an arm around her shoulder to hear over everyone else’s excited exclamations.

“Haven't seen him, kid," the former bearded lady says, "I'm s-"

Just then Ricky's voice comes into earshot, "Aricka?" he calls out, "Aricka? Where are you?"

Aricka whirls around, the sound of his voice one her very soul would recognize. “RICKY-!”

"ARICKA!" Ricky smiles with relief when he sees her. "Hey, over here!" he waves to help get her attention.

Aricka froze when she finally saw him, but her legs and brain got back with the program as she ran through the crowded room and threw herself at Ricky, before stepping back to assess for herself that her antidote had worked and it didn’t hurt him.

Ricky was doing the same; gazing deep into her eyes as if looking for something.

“Ricky..” She whispered. “You- oh you’re okay-!”

"Yeah, I'm okay," he cups her face with his hand, rubbing his thumb along her cheek, "All thanks to you." She closed her eyes and leaned into his touch, soaking in the sensation.

“I was so worried, I couldn’t find you. But- you- you’re okay. You’re safe-!” And she hugs him again, that kind of hug that you give when you return home after being away for a while. One of her arms were around his shoulders and the other around his waist, and she buried her face in the crook of his neck, soaking in the comfort and warmth of his hold.

Ricky holds her tighter. A comforting sigh escapes him as he rests his cheek on her temple. She still smelled like vanilla, still felt soft and warm. She felt like safety.

"Feels good to be back to my old self." he says, one of his arms around her shoulders and the other around her back, anchoring her to him.

Aricka giggles as she says, “I’m glad…I’m really glad. And about that one time I- well- you know..” she blushes. “I meant it.”

It. The kiss. Where she had thrown everything to the wind and kissed him, even though to him he’d felt like he didn’t deserve her even looking at him.

She’d loved him through it all. And he loved her.

"I know you did," he smiles, gazing lovingly at her, "I meant it too." He thinks for a moment, "Would you... maybe wanna try it again? Now that my mouth is back to normal?"

Aricka shakes her head against his shoulder, giggling as she says, “I would kiss you no matter what you look like. That’s a promise.”

His heart thumped painfully in his chest as the implication that if he hadn’t wanted to be cured she’d still love him.

“Well then," Ricky pulls away from their embrace. A playful smirk now on his face as he looks at Aricka, "prove it."

Aricka looks away to hide her red face and it’s then that she sees Ortiz and Dori watching them. Her eyes widen and she mouths, “is this real-?!” Before turning back to Ricky. She raises and eyebrow. “Alright then.” She leans forward and kisses him, her hands on his shoulders: seeing as she was on tiptoes.

Ortiz and Dori gasp seeing their friends finally get together. Dori grabs Ortiz's hands, not looking away from their friends, "Oh my goodness, they did it!"

"It's about time!" Ortiz smiles.

Aricka slides her hands up to Ricky’s face, holding him like he was something to be cherished. To be loved. I love you, she thinks. I love you, I love you, I love you. I’ve loved you from the moment I met you. I’ll always love you. I’ll never stop loving you.

As if he was reading her mind-

"I love you, Aricka." Ricky smiles, placing his hands over Aricka's. He turns his face closer to one of her hands, placing a small kiss on her palm, sending a thrill of butterflies through her stomach. "You know that, right?"

Her name never sounded as good as it did when Ricky said it. She nods, a bit dizzy and exhilarated as she says, “and I love you every bit as much. No, more then that. I could fill a whole book with reasons why I love you.”

Ricky makes a soft noise in the back of his throat, “Wow. That’s a lot of reasons. I want to hear them all.” They both laugh and he pulls her in for another big hug.

She sighs and says, “Oh Rick. It’s finally over.”

“Yes,” he says, tucking a strand of hair behind her ear. “Yes it is, my love.”

Aricka felt a lump in her throat and she couldn’t speak; so she let her actions do all the talking as she leaned in for one more big kiss.

And they both lived….

Happily Ever After

(Happily ever after.)

—————————————-

@astralshipper @rosieshipper @hyperionshipping @yeehawselfshipping @letsgofoletsgo @tsundere-selfship @callsign-revenge

[arickaandherfictionalothers]

Bill and Ted: Princess Self Insert

Basic Information

Full Name: Aricka Caroline Estelle Josephine Rosalind Lorimer

Title: Princess/Her Royal Highness

Nicknames: Sweet Nightingale, Songbird, The Kingdom’s Darling, My Princess, Most Bodacious Babe, Darling, Babe, My Star, Sis, Dude

Birth date: October 21st, 1399

Age: 19

Birthplace: 14th century Essex, England

Physical Appearance

Eye color: eyes as blue as sapphires

Hair: coppery-brown

Height: 5’2”

Notable features: her bright blue eyes, and her voice- it’s very beautiful; and soothing. It soothes her father the king when he’s in an angry state.

Jewelry/accessories: her waterdrop crown, amethyst signet ring, and diamond pendant necklace.

Hairstyle: curled and braided as much as possible with what few flowers she finds near her tower.

Skin tone: fair skin; freckled, and smooth.

Background

Parents: the king and queen of Essex, England

Siblings; Ted (the boy with the black hair in the gif below) and Deacon (boy in the striped shirt)

Best friends: Joana (the girl standing by Ted in the above gif) and Elizabeth (girl by Bill), Billy the Kid. Joan of Arc; and Dori Logan

Adopted dad: Jonathan Logan

Niece and Nephew: Darien Logan

Billie Logan

Romantic love interest: Bill S. Preston, Esq. (the blond haired boy in the gif with Ted)

Children: Theodora “Thea/Dora,” Liberty Preston (the blonde next to her cousin Billie-): 22

Axl “Ace” Presley Preston, 18

Silas “Si” Raine Preston, 10

Stella Luna Preston, 10

An alternate kid version of Bill S Preston, Esq., 7 (nickname BJ)

(Thanks Dori-!!)

@yeehawselfshipping @astralshipper @rosieshipper @hyperionshipping @callsign-revenge @tsundere-selfship