#But my heart would have hurt so much more if it had been Jim getting tortured 😅

[pinescent-and-gingerbread]

Can I request a drabble where Arthur comforts a female reader who has a broken heart? The reader's ex-boyfriend cheated on her and left with another woman.

Here we go! I took the liberty to name Reader's ex Jim (pretty random name for that place and time so I thought it would fit alright.)

I hope you'll like it anon!!🙌

࣪ ˖✧ The World is living.

✦ Pairing: Arthur Morgan x Fem!Reader ✦ Warnings/Tags: Mention of cheating, reader's ex is a loser (boo him), reader is in a pretty bad mental state but Arthur is here to save the day, cursing cause he's mad as hell someone hurt you. ✦ Words: 1,5k ✦ a/n: As Anon had requested a drabble I tried to keep this short! Takes place in Clement's Point because the lake is so good for that kind of work, reader is part of the gang. Clearly this drabble is a big hug to all my sis out there who have been poorly treated by their ex🫶🏻

You were sitting by the shore, just behind camp. Flat Iron Lake was always beautiful at that time, just before dawn. Frosty, pastel colors on the sky and the water surfaces, melting into a soft shade of pale lavender and teal blue. You could only hear the occasional chirping of birds, splashing of an adventurous fish jumping out of the water, and lonely howls of coyotes.

The World was living.

You couldn't understand how. How did the World was still turning while you were hurting that much? It should have stopped. It should have. This was the only option after what you had been through.

You felt tears watering your eyes again. You couldn't sleep, as often lately, so you just had decided to come and sit here in the sand to do something, anything else than just lying in your cot, alone in the cold night, alone in the cold silence, alone in the cold emptiness. Alone, so alone even though you were surrounded by people at camp; it didn't mattered. He was gone now, and everything felt tasteless without him, everything looked drearier, even the beautiful morning scenery under your eyes.

You were now crying hard. Damn it, you didn't even knew you still had water in your body for it. You had cried so many times in the past few days your eyes were permanently red, your cheeks scarred by two trails of dry tears; you felt like one of those oranges that people squeeze to get the juice, leaving behind only a corpse of fruit devoid of all substance.

You couldn't do it anymore, it hurt too much. You buried your face in your hands, sobbing once again, trying to let out the sorrow that was eating you up from inside like a noxious parasite since he had left you.

"Y/N? Is everythin' okay?"

You tilted your head up, a slight feeling of panic and shame crashing on you as you searched for your interlocutor.

It was Arthur. He was a few meters away from you, empty bucket in his hands. He probably was on his way to the lake to fill it, but had heard you crying. You weren't too surprised to see him this early, Arthur had never slept much, he was always up before you in normal time, already helping everyone around camp.

He looked at you in the eyes, waiting for an answer. He seemed genuinely concerned; you realized you hadn't seen him for a while since he had been on a difficult job for weeks, he probably should have came back during the night, but you were far too deep in your own dark thoughts to have noticed it. He was clearly clueless and surprised about your state, his arms hanging awkwardly by his sides, his blue work shirt's sleeves rolled up carelessly.

"N-no..." You only answered, trying to wipe what you could of the literal torrent of tears flooding out of your eyes, but it just wouldn't stop, you felt even more ashamed. You must have looked pitiful right now.

Arthur let go of the bucket, letting it fall on the ground without an ounce of care. He then slowly approached you, and sat down in the sand next to you, leaving a little space between your two bodies. He didn't look disturbed or annoyed, but almost as stoic as usual. Except for his eyes. His eyes were telling a hundred stories even if he didn't wanted it. Their azure color bright and deep, you almost recognized a hint of sadness in them, as if he was pained seeing you like this. 

"What's happenin' to ya, miss?" He inquired, voice deep and maybe a bit more empathetic than usual. He wasn't extremely expressive in usual times, so yet you could feel just by his presence how he cared about your well-being.

"It's Jim... He... He slept with one of these pretty girls from the Parlour House and he left me for her..." Saying it was making it all even worse. It was making it all too real. You struggled to get those words out, your tone cracking up as if they were crushing your vocal cords.

More tears, your eyes shutting close in a pained expression, the ache in your heart physically hurting you, as if someone had opened your thoracic cage and was crushing it with his bare hands. In a way, that's exactly what he had done to you.

"Goddamn piece of shit..." Arthur mumbled before looking at you, his intense indigo stare fixated on your face. He felt genuinely sorry, and outraged for you. Who in the world could have to audacity to hurt such a sweet girl like you? He was starting to clench his fists, feeling his blood boiling, a silent kettle on a burning fire. After a few seconds of hearing you cry, he couldn't hold it anymore, empathy getting the better of his rage, and opened his arms to gently pull you against him.

His strong, wide body enveloped you, and you let him. You buried your face into his chest, not really thinking about it, your hands wrapping around his waist, and gripping tight on his shirt. Looking clingy or odd was your last concern, you were way too blinded by your pain. You started crying loudly, wanting to make everything go out of you, your pain, your sadness, Him, everything.

"Yeah, that's it girl, let it all go..." He encouraged you, in a calm and quiet whisper. One of his hands had found its place behind your head, gently caressing it, the other resting around your waist. He carried you, as you screamed your pain to the World, as you poured all these gnawing feelings outside of you.

"He's a damn fool, Y/N. You deserve way better than him, lemme tell ya." Arthur murmured to you, voice still deep and caring. You could also hear behind that a hint of genuine anger in his tone, as he truly was pissed at Jim for having harmed you like this. "And you're gonna be okay, alright sweetheart?"

You slightly nodded into his chest, barely able to answer something properly. His scent and warmth were enfolding you, and you felt like you were somewhere else now, somewhere sunny. Somewhere pleasant. Somewhere better.

As the minutes went by, and his embrace didn't loosen, you slowly started to get out of your personal darkness, breath calming, thoughts clearing. You were taking in the fact that usually, Arthur wasn't frankly fond of hugs or other physical attention, and you felt thankful. He was doing this just for you.

"You're gonna be okay." He repeated like a silent vow. You felt like he was going to make sure of it. And for the first time in days, you honestly believed these words. You were going to be okay. It would take time, of course, but you just knew you would, as certain as the Sun was rising and setting every day.

You gently pulled back, both of you still holding each other in your arms, sitting on the sandy shore, but not as close, so you could look at this face. Your tears had soaked his shirt. You tried to apologize for it, but he quickly opposed it, telling you he had been covered in far worse than your tears. You smiled a bit, knowing he was right.

"Thank you so much for that Arthur..." You told him, genuinely feeling so grateful.

"Eh, I may be a cold-hearted killer, but I wouldn't have let a sweet lil' flower like ya cry..." He asserted, a slight grin on his face. You noticed how he looked a bit reassured himself, less worried. Maybe, just like his affection towards the other members of the gang, Arthur actually cared much more about you than what he was letting everyone see.

He carefully wiped the last tear from your cheek, thumb feeling rough but gentle against your skin, before getting up, his hands leaving your body but not going too far away as he proposed one of them for you to take and help you get up. You gladly took it, enjoying the warm contact of your fingers on his skin.

"I just feel like... I'm not enough..." You concluded with a pained tone, your eyes looking down at your feet. The fact that on top of having broken up with you, Jim had left you for another woman, was absolutely destroying you, making you feel like you were worthless. It was also this feeling that was so hard to handle; so hard to live with.

"Listen t'me." Arthur told you a bit more firmly, his eyes searching for yours. He knew how you felt, he felt bad about himself every day of his life. He didn't wanted you to feel like this in any way, ever. "Don't let this bastard make ya feel shitty. You're a beautiful, sweet, kind young woman, that is the truth." He asserted, his hands squeezing yours in a comforting gesture before letting go of them.

"Thank you, Arthur..." You said once more, feeling like you were repeating yourself, but he didn't seem to mind. He was walking back to where he had left the bucket, grabbing it to finish his chore.

"Ah, no worry, miss." He said to you with a smile, now feeling better as you felt less depressed. "Let me tell ya, this piece of shit better be far by now, 'cause I'm goin' to beat the Hell out of him if I ever see him again." He added, still smiling, but you knew he was being dead serious, and he was way more than capable of it. You almost chuckled, thanking him for the third time and telling him you wouldn't mind if he did.

He noticed the little grin that had curled up your lips. He loved it. His days at Clement's point weren't the same without your bright smile and your pleasant presence.

The Sun had completely risen now, the camp slowly emerging from its slumber. The first drowsy voices of your companion softly filling the air, yawning, saying greetings, some already teasing, merging with the sound of nature around you.

The World was living.

And now, so you were.

[henrysglock]

sorry your el/byers family posting just made me think of El's letter at the start of S4 where she says she'd asked Jonathan about the 'smelly plant' he was smoking and I had to laugh and then also cry because the whole letter is fuuuull of instances where El seeks out a conversation with a Byers and gets dismissed

She listened to Joyce talk about her job, she was inquisitive with Jonathan and seemingly listened to him worry about Nancy, she tried connecting with Will on his painting and noticed he'd been acting 'weird'...

But Joyce has no idea she's getting bullied (she was very aware when Will went through similar struggles), Jonathan would maybe normally step up but isn't even there for Will for the first half of the season, and finally Will is clearly holding her at a distance for reasons she can't understand.

I feel compelled to defend the Byers because S4 also seems like the season where they're most distant with each other, and so it kind of tracks that none of them are putting in any extra effort with El either, but it does hurt my heart that El was clearly TRYING and just never really got anything out of it. She's tacked onto their unit and none of them try to make any time or space for her.

Allllll of this :( She was trying so hard to become part of the family, and the one person who was really available to connect with didn't really want all that much to do with her. And for what? Because he's worried about himself? About his petty problems re: Mike? Where's the Tonka truck boy? Where's Mister "She's sad, Mommy"? I don't see him anywhere.

I think basically every fan feels compelled to defend the Byers family under any circumstances (largely because they're main protags), but in this case...someone should have done better. El's like 2 years out of HNL, it's her very first year of school, and she just lost her father, for Christ's sake. I'm not usually one to rank suffering, but El was suffering the most, here. Someone should have done better by her. Literally any of them. My only beef with Will is that he was the one most suited to connect with her based on age and shared experiences. But Joyce was right there, too. Sure, she's busy, but like you said...she was very attuned to Will getting bullied.

El's just not part of the family structure, so she doesn't get any effort that would have been put into the family (which is basically what you said).

It's heartbreaking, considering that all she's ever wanted is a loving family—most of all a mother and siblings—and she was so close to having exactly that...and they didn't step up. No one ever really steps up for her, it seems. It's the one reason I'm glad Jim's back from "the dead". At least someone might possibly have the time for her, now.

It's all the more heartbreaking considering how many times she's willingly put her own life on the line for the Byers family. Not to sound like a cunt, but this is how she's repaid? By being an outsider once again? With zero effort put into supporting her from anyone? Will can't even make good on his promise to help fix her diorama! (Which is of Jim, something that's not lost on me re: El's desire for an involved parent. Jim wasn't perfect, and I'm one of his biggest critics, but life at the cabin seemed better than whatever the fuck Lenora Hills had going on.) He'd rather just mope at the breakfast table while Mike takes care of it. At least Mike went up to talk to El.

Like no wonder NINA showed El a parent/big brother who seemingly prioritized her, was on her side, and seemed committed to protecting her, for once! No wonder she willingly went with Brenner! She feels abandoned! She's going back to whatever's available, because nothing else is available, and she only feels worthwhile when she's "useful" (read: is playing superhero). It's awful. I always feel so badly for her.

I hope ST5 gives her a happy, peaceful ending that's full of all the familial love she's been deprived of.

[branwenjade]

They shouldn't be doing this. Jim knows that they really shouldn't be doing this, not right now, not when Bones is sure he'll be able to fix things and get Jim back to his proper self.

But the looks that Spock had been giving Jim since the... accident... were practically pornographic, and Jim was only human.

The feeling of Spock's hands on his body, holding Jim tightly by the hips as he takes Jim with an intensity that makes Jim want to weep from joy and sorrow at the same time. He's selfish and greedy and knows that when Bones eventually puts him back correctly that he'll never feel this again, that Spock will return to being nothing but his first officer. It kills him a little inside to want the man so much and know he can't have him.

It started normally, a random mission, and Jim having an allergic reaction to something on the planet they were visiting, causing Jim to beam up alone. Except when he rematerialized on the transporter pad, he was a she. It's been almost a month since the unfortunate accident and Jim is halfway believing that he'll never be fixed.

Jim had noticed Spock's attraction to his (temporary) new body within the day, and had tried to keep his own attraction hidden, just as he'd done for years now. But Spock seemed to be even more at his side than normal, standing closer than he usually did.

And then, one morning in the turbolift Spock had paused it and Jim found himself pressed up against the wall, Spock's fingers in his hair as he was kissed breathless. Jim had spent the entire shift in a daze, and by the time he returned to his quarters had been so worked up that it barely took him any time to orgasm. Then Spock had just casually entered his quarters through their joint bathroom, taking the hand that Jim had used to pleasure himself in his own, bringing the fingers to that mouth that distracted Jim so often, and began to lick and suck on the digits, his eyes never leaving Jim's.

After that it was impossible to keep their hands off of each other, and it killed Jim a little each time they made love because he knew that it wouldn't last, that as soon as he was back in his real body that Spock would go back to how things were before. Yet Jim can't help but allow the attention, the affection, the desire that Spock is choosing to give him at this point, even if it hurts because this is just an illusion of what could be, if Jim was different.

"You're troubled," Spock whispered into his ear, "what draws your attention from me, Ashayam?"

Jim closed his eyes, head down, trying to get out of his own head, trying to enjoy the feelings Spock made him feel, trying to memorize the way Spock felt buried inside him, making him moan and tremble and gasp. He couldn't tell Spock the truth, couldn't guilt him into continuing this... relationship... mutual lust... friends with benefits... whatever this was to Spock, not when he knew it wasn't what Spock really wanted.

"I'm good. Nothing's wrong, Spock," Jim finally answered, realizing that not even he believed the words he spoke.

"You're not good or fine or any other variation on that term. Please, Jim, talk to me," there was a quiet desperation in Spock's voice that broke Jim's heart even more than it already was.

"I love you... I fell in love with you and I can't keep you. Bones will fix me and then... and then this will be over and I... I'll be alone again. I didn't want you to know, didn't want you to feel... obligated to... staying with someone who you aren't attracted to. I tried to... I knew where I stood with you before... I was fine, I was..."

"Jim," the name was whispered softly, and Jim couldn't bring himself to look at Spock. "I haven't been honest with you. I've been selfish. I wanted you so much, you overwhelmed me from the moment we met. But I had never seen you show any interest in another man, so I... neglected to tell you of my affection and attachment to you. I should have explained myself, especially now, but you let me touch you like this, you let me in, you let me have you as my own, and I wanted to keep you for as long as I was able to... as long as you would let me be yours."

"Spock? Please don't tell me that we've both been idiots."

"We have infact both been idiots. Though I do ask for your forgiveness."

Jim looked him in the eyes, "What did you do?"

Spock takes a deep breath before speaking, "I located the proper sequence to put you back to your proper self two weeks after the accident. I have... I have not told anyone that I have located that information. I wanted to, I couldn't give you up, I couldn't... If this was the only way to get to have you, to be able to hold you in my arms, to be able to make love to you as I have longed for since we met... I know that it's selfish and I have done you a great disservice. Please, I beg of you, forgive me."

Jim laughed, he couldn't help it, it was warm and comforting and a little unhinged, "Please tell me that you haven't been sabotaging Bones' attempts to fix me. You have, haven't you. I've been feeling so damn selfish myself. Wanted you for so long, and figured that this was the only way... I knew I was allergic to that plant, I knew what would happen if I had a reaction... The combination of my medicines, that pollen, and the transporter... I just wanted to... I wanted you to see me."

Spock stared at him with a look that could only be described as awe mixed with embarrassment, "It seems that the two of us are both limited in our communication skills when it comes to each other."

Jim chuckled softly, giving Spock a small kiss that quickly grew in intensity and passion, and soon the only sounds were their mutual moans and gasps of pleasure.

[chromatic-lamina]

20 Questions for Fic Writers!

Thank you for the tags @hyperions-light ❤️

I haven't done one of these for a while. Really, if you want to do this, then please do, and vice versa! (and tag me, if you want to. I'd like to see your answers).

Take note that I've been posting since 2017, so there are a few works up there!

1) How many works do you have on AO3? 85.

2) What’s your total AO3 word count? 791,018 words.

3) What are your top 5 fics by kudos? Hmm, with smut or without? Actually, they are a mix (by kudos).

Dark like the North Blue Sea (aka The Sea-Hill you Die On) (350 kudos), Bioluminescent Hearts (323 kudos), Repossession (mind the tags!) 253 kudos, The sellout (mind the tags!) 237 kudos, the slut's dilemma 220 kudos (really, really, really, really mind the tags, please). I want to put a shout out for number 7: softening the fall of snow with 197 kudos. If I hadn't taken some of my fics off anon, that would be in the top 5.

4) What fandoms do you write for?

Only One Piece.

5) Do you respond to comments? Why or why not? Yes! Because I'm so grateful, and it can lead to friendships!

6) What’s the fic you wrote with the angstiest ending?

Haha, all of them, but they're angsty and then happy (except for the Hurt, NO comfort fics). Maybe softening the fall of snow. But it's still upbeat in its own way. Defects (Marco is immortal, his partners are not)

7) What’s the fic you wrote with the happiest ending? Except for the Hurt no Comfort fics, I try to have a form of positive resolution. Maybe Repossession, or Bioluminescent Hearts, or screen / shiki-e. Doctor Death (Doula), despite its premise (actually, because of it). Overlooked and Underpaid is funny, I think, and Sea Hill too. Ooh, I love the ending of Welding (KidLaw)

8) Do you get hate on fics?

I have once or twice, but they were pretty confronting fics. However, they were tagged.

9) Do you write smut? I used to. Not so much any more, or when my mind leads me into darker recesses smut with a capital Dead Dove. However, I have written healthier smut, but yeah, not for a while.

10) Do you write crossovers?

I don't think so. Sometimes some kind of famous fictional world might fit a premise. For example, Taxi  is inspired by Jim Jarmusch's "Night on Earth", but it's not a crossover.

11) Have you ever had a fic stolen?

No. I thought a fic had a very similar premise, but what in fanfic doesn't? I asked the writer directly and although our fics had similar premises, mine did not inspire theirs.

12) Have you ever had a fic translated?

Yes! I've been super lucky to have two of my fics translated into Vietnamese (maybe 3). screen / shiki-e by Dea_Fi screen / shiki-e (my original)

As fast as he could caper by Dea_Fi, As fast as he could caper (my original)

Những điều hư cấu by Dea_Fi (Nuts in a nutshell is the one shot collection's title); Fairy Tales - Law, Germa 66, Montblanc Noland (my original) I've also had two fabulous podcasts done too! [podfic] screen / shiki-e, [screen / shiki-e (my original) ]

[podfic] Overworked and Underpaid by Podfics by (zipcodecrone) , Overlooked and Underpaid (my original [I changed the name]).

13) Have you ever cowritten a fic before?

Yes! Last October (2024) I worked with @ninhaoma-ya, @cal-cium-the-nerd and @crowbarsolo on Sunk Cost Fallacy for the davyback fight run by @cyborg-franky

14) What’s your all-time favorite ship? close tie between LawBin and LawZo, I used to write MarLaw, and I'm still fond. I like SmoLaw and KidLawKid. LawSan's great too, but I haven't written them yet. I like Ray and Shakky, Aladine and Praline, Big Mom and Kaidou. Dunno, most ships are fine with me.

15) What’s the WIP you want to finish but doubt you ever will?

The last entry for the rare pair month from a few years ago (MarLaw. I have the idea).

16) What are your writing strengths?

I get the job done. Maybe keeping track of an idea.

17) What are your writing weaknesses?

Verbose, even with so few words.

18) Thoughts on writing dialogue in another language in a fic?

I'm guessing this is the honorifics argument. Guess it depends how close you feel to the source material, and what the writer is trying to convey and why.

19) First fandom you wrote for?

One Piece. However, my sister and I did a word for word blow by blow rewrite of the Three Little Pigs when we were little.

20) Favorite fic you’ve ever written?

Maybe I'll do my favourite of last year spilling into this. Decomposers (LawZo), Welding (KidLaw), water fills the shape of the holder  (law/guilt), and it's actually pulled from a much older and longer piece, but Brontë's Ring (mind the tags). I think my all-time recent fave is still in zine jail.

[slowandsteddie]

Hi!

Since you’re asking for fic ideas, how about Claudia Henderson taking Steve in when he’s younger? She knows Wayne Munson got custody of his nephew the year before, so she asks him for advice helping Steve adjust.

Maybe Steve and Eddie getting to be close friends? Bonus points for little brother Dustin!

Thank you so much for the request! I love it and have been thinking about it nonstop.

CW: mentions of divorce, previous child neglect/abuse, C-PTSD, mention of minor character death (murder), swearing

I’m not sure what happened here exactly. I just know that I like it.

1953 words.

Claudia Henderson had always wanted two boys, a fact that almost everyone in Hawkins knew about. So, it really shouldn’t have come as a surprise to her that Jim Hopper was standing on her doorstep. He was holding his hat in front of him and the look on his face proved that he knew he was probably going to ask too much. Again.

“How can I help you, Chief?” She asked as though she couldn’t see Steve Harrington sitting in Hop’s car and looking straight ahead.

He cleared his throat. “I need to watch over the kid for a few days. Maybe a week while we try to get ahold of some relatives.”

Jim never was one to beat around the bush, but neither was Claudia. “Why?”

“His father is… going away for a while.” He seemed uncomfortable.

“Why?” She repeated, subconsciously crossing her arms when she had to press for more answers. He came to her for a favor, she had every reason to demand answers.

“He killed his wife and the kid has nowhere else to go in the meantime. I don’t want to have to hold him in a cell just because we don’t have a child services division in this small town.”

“Sorry we aren’t New York, Chief.” She sighed and ran a hand through her hair. That poor kid. Did he see what happened? Was she going to have to take him into the station to answer questions in the morning? “Does he have anything with him?”

“Just some clothes. He didn’t really want anything out of that house.”

She sighed again at that. “Bring him, then.”

Tomorrow, she was going to see if he wanted to go to the store and get anything. Probably best to keep him busy if he was willing. Besides, she needed to take Dustin to go pick out a new coloring book anyway.

Claudia looked out through the darkness and gave herself a moment to mourn, though not to cry. Steve’s mother had been her friend, even if they had drifted apart after Claudia’s divorce had gone through. Tonight couldn’t be about her. Not when her best friend’s son needed someone to take care of him.

“Thank you, Ms Henderson,” Hop said as he passed the backpack over to her and Steve stood on her doorstep.

He was so skinny. And was that bruising or shadows on his tiny face? That was a question she’d leave for the morning. Right now, he looked like he was about to collapse.

“I’m not doing it for you,” she replied before kneeling down to Steve’s level.

Hop took the opportunity to leave. The young male looked to him the same way a terrified boy would look for his father and Claudia made a note to reprimand the police chief later.

“Hi, Steve. I know this isn’t your home, but I want you to be comfortable here. Do you want to stay in the spare room tonight, or my room?”

He looked at her, wide eyed, as if she had a second head. “I get to choose?” He asked so softly and it broke her heart.

“You always have a choice here, Steve. As long as you stay safe and don’t hurt anyone.”

He chewed his lip and winced. It made Claudia lean more towards bruises than shadows, but it was hard to tell in the lighting and she wasn’t going to push. He had been through a lot.

“Spare room please,” Steve eventually decided.

Claudia made sure to show him where the kitchen and the bathroom were in case he needed anything. She also pointed out her own room being right across the hall before opening the door to the spare room for him. She did her best to make sure that he was as settled and comfortable as he was going to be under the circumstances. She stood in the door frame for a few seconds, holding on to it gently. She didn’t want to leave him, but he had requested to be alone.

“Anything you need, Steve. Just let me know. And Dustin might pester you in the morning if he wakes up before I do.”

“Okay,” he said simply.

Claudia went back to bed, leaving her door open. She really was going to have to call Wayne in the morning.

If Steve snuck into her room and laid on the floor beside her bed, she pretended not to notice.

—

“Wayne?” She was speaking a little lower than normal, but she did have two sleeping boys in her house and she was doing her best to keep it that way. “How did you help Eddie cope when he had to move in with you?”

“Why are you asking Claudia?” His voice was rough, but she knew him well enough to know that it was because he was tired.

“Have you heard about what happened at the Harrington’s yet?”

“You mean the murder?”

“I have Steve. Hop brought him to me last night,” she said in a rush before looking down the hall to make sure neither boy was going to sneak in on this conversation.

“Just make sure he feels safe and knows that things are going to happen at his speed, as much as possible. Have your limits and stick to them. Don’t let him push you over just because you know the hell he’s been through. And most important? Don’t try and be his Mama unless he asks you to.”

“Don’t have to worry about that last one. Hop said it should hopefully only be a week until they find some family willing to take him.” There was a tiny sniffle behind her. “Shit, Wayne. I gotta go. I’ll call you back tonight.”

When Claudia turned around, Steve was already disappearing back into the spare bedroom. The door closed with a soft click.

Shit.

“Mom, what’s for breakfast?” Dustin demanded as he walked out of his room and straight to the kitchen.

She’d check in on Steve soon. He probably needed a minute anyway.

“Pancakes sound good to you, Dusty?”

His toothless grin made her heart hurt.

How could anyone look at their child and feel anything but love?

—

It had been a few months and it seemed like Steve was staying. No one wanted to step up and take Steve. Honestly? Claudia wasn’t heartbroken about it. The longer he stayed, the more she loved him. She wasn’t fully convinced that she would let anyone take him away from her at this point. She wasn’t sure when she started looking at Steve as a son exactly, just that it happened quickly. Even Dustin, spoiled as he was, was excited to have an older kid in the house to hang out with. He said it made him seem cool to his friends that he suddenly found himself spending a lot more time with a Harrington. Whatever that meant.

She was just happy they were getting along. Happy that Steve was getting more comfortable with them. He was back up to a healthy weight, all the bruises were gone, and his injuries had turned to faded scars. Steve was safe. Most importantly, he was happy and loved. Claudia tried to not let it get to her that those were new feelings for the boy who previously only knew neglect or abuse at the hands of his biological parents.

—

Claudia woke up in the middle of the night, her heart pounding. What was that? A second thud had her throwing her covers back and running to the kitchen. The sight that greeted her would have made her laugh if Steve didn’t look so terrified.

Both boys were covered in flour. Honestly, the fact that most of the kitchen also had at least a thin dusting of the stuff was kind of impressive.

“What’s happening in here?” She asked with a smile.

Steve flinched and she tried to not let it get to her. He had to know by now that she would never hurt him, but the past doesn’t just go away like that.

“We were trying to make you a cake, but you put the flour too high and Steve wasn’t going to crawl on the counter. So I had to do it.” Dustin supplied after looking at the older kid and realizing that he wasn’t going to talk.

It happened a lot, Steve suddenly not talking. He also tended to leave the room a lot and hide in what had become his room. At least he felt safe enough to walk away now. He wasn’t walking away this time.

“It’s your birthday,” Steve said so softly. “It’s your birthday and you deserve a cake. I never got a cake.” His words got quieter as he kept talking, the last part of what he said barely audible.

“Oh, Steve,” Claudia’s heart was breaking. Shattering, really. “That’s really thoughtful of you, sweetheart. How about this? We clean up this mess and try again together? Yeah? Then I’ll move some stuff around so you can reach all the food in this kitchen.”

His eyes were shiny with unshed tears as the fear on his face gave way to a shy smile. “Okay,” he said simply.

And that was that.

—

Claudia was flustered.

She had been talking to Wayne a lot lately because he could relate to what she was going through. Taking in a kid who had nowhere else to go.

Somehow, that translated into them going out for dinner or lunch a few times to talk in person. To complain about the hardships and brag about the worthy things respectively.

That turned into her actually asking him on a date. Even more surprisingly, he agreed! Even though she knew he wouldn’t care, she was dressed in her absolute best and even took the time to tame her wild hair.

When there was a knock on the door, she was quick to answer it before Steve or Dustin had a chance. What she saw took her breath away. Wayne had put an effort in as well, and he was even holding a bouquet of flowers. Her cheeks heated and she smiled widely.

“They’re beautiful,” she breathed.

“You’re beautiful,” Wayne replied.

“Come in, come in,” she insisted as she stepped out of the way. When she saw Eddie, she smiled at him as well. “Thank you for agreeing to babysit my kiddos for me.”

Eddie grinned. “Uncle Wayne said he’d get me an Iron Maiden cassette.” Then he was running off to Dustin’s room, following the sound of laughter.

Claudia laughed softly before returning her attention to Wayne.

He shrugged. “Flattery and bribery get you everywhere with that boy,” he joked before going to grab a vase to put the flowers in.

Obviously he had been around the house a few times and paid attention to where she put things. Briefly, Claudia pictured Wayne and Eddie moving in - in the future.

It wasn’t a bad thought.

—

When they got back, Claudia was greeted by an adorable sight. Dustin was asleep, spread across the couch. Eddie and Steve were cuddled up in the recliner. Of course Dustin would claim the couch for himself and make two people share the smaller seat.

“Let’s not wake them just yet,” she said softly after a moment. “I’ve never seen Steve look so relaxed.”

Wayne had no objections. “Let’s put a note on the coffee table and then head to the backyard?”

Claudia had no objections, either. She scrawled out something on a piece of paper that was on the table already before leading the way outside. They sat on the outside loveseat, their knees touching.

Everyone was going to be spending a lot more time together. She just knew it.

[zombocomme]

Zombocomme: and for tonight's late night drama, we bring you a fan requested episode...

Between The Lines, Bonus Episode : One Day More

Enjoy

SFW:PG13: *mentions miscarriage, male cis pregnancy, cancer/remission, dreams come true

"As long as I'm living, my baby you'll be"-

Love you Forever, by Robert Munsch

🌌🥀🕯🪹🌸🕊✨️🫲🙂‍↕️🫱✨️🪽🌷🪺🕯💐🌌

"Jim you're crazy!"

Copia said, wringing out the dish towel and smacking it on the counter.

Jim's face twisted, "Copia how else do we get to make this happen. I can't make Milagro do this."

"Well you can't make me either, we dont even know if this one will take." Copia said bitterly as he moved to try and leave the kitchen again.

This time, Jim caught Copia's arm in a firm yet gentle grip, pulling him close, his embrace speaking volumes...

Jim wanted to find another surrogate, but try and use Milagros frozen eggs. But so much doubt had been cast over the little family, kt all seemed so hopeless...

*The pain of heartache is long remembered and never forgotten*

Copia squeezed his eyes, "Your going to get dish water all over your shirt." Copia grumbled. Jim shook his head and tilted Copia's chin to look at him, no fussing, and nothing else mattering more in the world than his love, "Baby, I don't know and I don't care how. I sold my eternity to bring that child from the other side for her. And for us. I have faith the deal will hold. For ll be damned to ever stop trying, " Jim said firmly.

Copia felt tears well in his eyes as he tried to fuss over Jim's shirt, uselessly attempting to pat-dry it with the already dampened dish towel. His lip quivered and his voice was shaky as he felt the hurt and sadness run deeper, felt the lost hope and hurt break through his bleeding heart...

*Millie had lost the last baby...it was no one's fault, though she blamed herself and the "poor quality" of the last of her eggs saved before the chemo... and yet even in remission, the IVF had failed. It just didn't take the way it should have. Their plan had failed. And despite the joy of a heartbeat one day, it had been gone the next. She had grieved and cried with Copia and Jim, who had held her and each other through it all. She loved them. She wanted to give them the life the three of them wanted, but mostly, she wanted to have their baby. She wasn't just a surrogate. She was family. She was the woman they both adored. And the thought of one of her children out in the world, that she would never get to see grow to look a little like her and the men she loved wirh all her heart, made her loose any want to perhaps have her heart broken again...

*The last loss had been the very last try... and it had broken Copias heart. It had crushed Jim's happiness. It had stolen Milagros sunshine away.*

"Oh Jimmy, what did you do?" Copia trembled, trying to sniff back his sobs in vain. Jim began to cry. He held Copia tight. Tighter than ever before and broke down with him...

* The deal with a devil came with a steep price...for one soul isn't equal to another. And the unborn life had cost Jim his own. A blooded vampire - who, unlike Copia, will now not live out his forever. He may age slowly. He may yet live longer than a human's mortal lifetime. But eventually, his time would be up...*

While Copia held onto his husband for dear life, Jim was trying to hold himself and Copia together in his strong arms, tendons pushing out, his teeth gritted as he wept bitterly...

The little one they had hoped for, had been lost to them. And Jim had done his impossible part, and paid the ultimate price to try and bring that little soul back...

Months passed, and Milagro faded more and more. She was a shaddow of herself, thinning and barely able to stand. She had wanted her little one so badly. She had wanted to feel life within her, after so many times, so many losses, so many years, the hole in her heart had just gotten too big...

*And one cannot pour from an empty cup*

The damage to her, as a mortal vessel of life, had done its due diligence, and made her loose part of herself...

She wouldn't be able to carry the embryos again... and so they sat frozen in time waiting, and waiting...

Until one day...

***

Copia wrung his hands as he spoke with Milagro in private, "Millie, you've sacrificed so much. You deserve to have the feeling of at least being involved. I don't want you to give up on that. I don't want to lose you too, " he hitched. She had become so fragile and frail... she had been sick for so long. And time was running out... the cancer was back. And it was very unlikely she would live longer than another year. And to think his Milagro would so soon be taken from him without a little of her left to grow and flourish in the world, was killing him.

Milagro looked at Copia, her expression worn and tired. She gazed a long time at the flowers by her table...after a long silence, only broken my Copias, soft weeping into the blankets on her lap, the faintest light crept into her eyes. The knowledge of Jim's sacrifice and her own suffering, she knew, she had to let it go... she had to give up on her own dreams. She had to give them to someone else while there was still time to see them come true.

But it was worth the price. She stood and gently padded towards copia in the opposite chair and cupped his face in her hands, "Your brother found a way. And so will we. And I'll be here for your every step,' she said softly, smoothing his locks of hair, "I want you to do it... I want you to do this. For all of us. For me. Please." She hushed, brushing her lips against his brow, and cradling his head to her chest, "I love you so much... we deserve our hapiness while we can still keep it... Take them" she said firmly, "No matter what it takes...we deserve our litrle one back".

He wrapped his arms around her as she spoke. He was frightened, grateful, anxious, and determined...

"It will take. It will work, " he prayed over and over as he held her, "It will work, and we will have our happiness again." He whispered urgently. And for the first time in many months, Milagro closed her eyes, and with the sun streaming into the blue shaddows of her room, she hugged Copia tighter, and smiled.

***

With the help of his brothers, and the finest of the ministry physicians, scholars of the dark arts, and risky apothecary magic, under a new moon the trio came together, to defy whatever stood in their way.

*For not even death can overcome true love. And what truer love is there than that of those who would give all they had, for a single pearl of hope, having faith in their gods, who would decide if they would be smiled upon one more time...*

***

Copia waited at the dining table in his and Jims apartments. Milagro was in another room down the hall. The ritual had taken a toll on her too, but she was stronger, with purpose, she had found the strength to endure... her status as one who is a vessel for life, had been transferred. And Copia would now be 'the bearer' of their child.

As Milagro lay resting in her quarters, Jim was rushing up a set of marble stairs leading towards the 'New Emeritus' wing of the ministry, his black leather shoes sliding on the smooth carpet of the halls in the upper tower. He had been in the gardens with Primo, collecting flowers to fashion a boquete to gift to Copka, when he received the news...

Copia had taken two tests. And one was positive...

Jim burst through the door, the flowers bobbing in his hand as he skid to a sudden halt. Copia stood up, and with sureness in his stride not seen in so long, crossed over, and pulled the flowers from Jim's hands, hugged his neck. Jim, still stunned and breathing hard, took a second to get back to reality. He hugged copia and in his ear whispered, "Is this real, please tell me this is real." he whispered harshly, eyes wide, staring at the little white and blue sticks laid neatly on a napkin on the table.

"Copia pulled back and looked deeply into Jim's eyes, his eyes moist and his tearful expression, rosy with joy, "We're pregnant Jim dear".

"Say it again" Jim whispered, cupping Copia's face in his hands, his eyes pleading.

Copia took a steadying breath, "We are going to have Milagros baby. I'm going to be a Papa, Jimmy...and you are going to be, a Daddy.

Jim was stunned a moment and Copia was patient to let the moment sink in.

Jim leaped froward, spinning Copia in his arms as he whooped and hollared, Copia laughing loudly in response as they smothered each other in a flurry of kisses and praise.

Their celebratory cheers echoed down the hall, and in her room, Milagro's eyes fluttered open as she smiled, finding warmth and peace in her heart. She had done it. They all had...

Her child, the soul unborn, and Copia, it's bearer. The ritual had worked. All their love and hope, all their faith, had finally been enough; They would finally have the family they always wanted. And all of them would get to live forever more.

It took less than a minute for 'the boys' to burst into her room with the flowers and crowd around her to tell her the big news. When she began to hold her head in some pain, Copia and Jim quieted down from their excited chattering.

Jim insisted on tossing Copia in bed with Milagro, fussing and pampering the both of them as he clucked, much to Milagro and Copias amused giggles and playful swatting.

The trio talked the whole afternoon into the wee hours of the next morning, looking up names, planning and scheduling appointments (as this whole affair would need to be private. Playfully they nicknamed their happy little scheme "Junior" like that one movie)

And as they made wishlists online and went over everything they could possibly think of, they lay together in Milagros big bed. After what was certainly past bedtime, the three got comfortable, stripping down to cuddle under the sheets, skin to skin, intimate and loving.

Yet as milagro tucked against Jim's bare chest, Jim threw an arm around her and Copia, with Copia snuggling Milagro as her big spoon. The men looked at one another im ansolute awe. Their faces full of love and emotion, they were in that beautiful bliss that follows what dreams may come, when they come true.

Jim kissed Milagros head and Copia dropped his hand to her waist, then leaned over to steal a kiss from his husband, and bestow a few more on the woman they both were so grateful and proud of.

*Blood and Water, had sealed their bond. And quietly inside of a small space in Copias body, cells were rapidly racing to become what these parents had given all they could for... to be their baby. And be their morning star to guide them into tomorrow...

[weaselle]

Dog Walking Post 3 of 3

@hatchan is hiring dog walkers and since i am in the business, has asked me what qualities and skills i think make the perfect dog walker.

So far i've told the story of two dog walkers we've hired where i work: Dave, who is such a perfect temperament for dogs that it fooled us into thinking he understands dogs well. And Jim, who was good with dogs, but was scattered and unreliable in stressful conditions.

The point of these stories is that it is easy to focus on finding someone who loves dogs and has good interactions with them, but what you really need is someone who can be in charge of dogs. And of course by "in charge" i mean responsible for the dogs and maintaining safe control of their experience, none of this Alpha/Dominance bullshit you hear so much about in this industry.

So we've talked about being good in an emergency, and we've talked about understanding things from a dog's point of view, now i'm going to spend a minute on paying attention. For this, we're going to talk about another employee that didn't work out, lets call him Greg.

There were a lot of reasons Greg didn't work out, and i personally had to do the paperwork and meetings and actual firing of Greg, which was sad because i liked him and still really hope he's finding happiness and success somewhere. But the thing i'm going to talk about is how much trouble Greg had remembering to pay enough attention to the dogs.

For example, one day we were each walking a pack of dogs, and the route was on a pedestrian path (we switched routes to that path that day because while it's not as good for dog walking as our more usual route, it has a lot more shade and that was a very hot day -- you want a dog walker who pays attention to that sort of thing)

Now this path crossed a street, and had the sort of posts they put on that kind of path to prevent cars from thinking they can turn onto the pedestrian path, like this

Now, if you are walking a pack of 8 dogs through these, you want to check to make sure none of your dogs are taking their leash on the wrong side of the posts as you pass through. Greg had been walking with us for more than two months at this point, mostly with my boss, and i just... didn't think i had to tell him to make sure the leashes didn't hang up on the posts.

But he just... walked through at full speed without looking at any of his dogs at all. And sure enough, one of them went on the other side of one of the posts and got hung up hard by the neck. It was hard enough that she yelped in pain, which hurt my heart because i should have been looking out for her better. Greg was my responsibility that day, and therefor all his dogs were my responsibility too, and i failed that poor dog. I just didn't think a person would walk through something like that without even looking... anyway.

I stopped us and talked to him about how important it is to always be paying attention to the dogs, specifically talking about leash hang-ups and neck injuries.

Then, because i was starting to get a feel for what working with Greg was like, I deliberately passed us back through those same exact posts two more times in the next 45 minutes. And i am still flabbergasted when i tell you he did not check the leashes while passing through EITHER TIME even after being reminded again.

The thing is, Greg just couldn't focus. Walking was an activity that made him zone out. And even when not walking, he would do stuff like forget to block the open van door with his body while dealing with a dog that was already out, even if it had only been 2 minutes since you reminded him that he needed to position himself to prevent dogs from jumping out of the van and into traffic. Or, when repeatedly told during the walk that he had to make sure a specific dog didn't get a hold of pine cones and sticks because she would eat them, he simply would not notice her darting over to pick one up, and he would not notice her walking along chewing on it.

He just couldn't remember protocols or focus or pay full attention to the dogs. As someone who probably has some kind of ADHD thing going on myself, i empathized with his mental state, but he was just not compatible with the job, he could not be trusted to keep the dogs safe. I wish him well wherever he is now.

So that was a lot of talking about people who did the job wrong, but what we are discussing is who to hire for dog walking, and i'm hoping hatchan and i can both learn from my hiring mistakes.

To answer in the positive though... What skills and traits would i combine in a lab to create the perfect dog walker?

Someone with an instinctive understanding of dogs - they don't have to be perfect at knowing all dog body language etc, but they have to understand on an internalized level the basics of how to read dogs and how to interact with dogs who are in various emotional states. For example being able to tell a dog is nervous, and knowing without having to stop and think about it not to make sudden movements toward that dog. Crucially, this is different than loving dogs or having good energy around dogs or interacting comfortably and easily with dogs, all of which are also things to look for of course.

Someone who is calm and in control under stressful conditions. This is hard to assess, but you might try suddenly changing something or... idk, i might hand a leashed dog over during the second interview (which would be a working interview to observe them with dogs) and inform them that this dog really dislikes the dog i'm about to bring into the room and then go get another dog on a leash and see how they handle that. I wouldn't really bring together two dogs that had beef, i'd actually use two dogs that had a normal relationship, but this would give you insight into not only how this person handled a potentially stressful situation, but also how quickly the person picked up from the dogs that they were actually fine together.

I'd be looking for the person to do things like position themselves between the dog they had and the dog that was entering, stay clam and try to keep the attention of the dog they were holding, see if they were able to pay attention to both dogs, and assess how quickly they realized there was actually no issue between the dogs. I'd also at that point be looking for them to ask questions that indicated they understood that some dogs seem fine right up until they aren't. Questions like have these dogs had physical altercations before, do either of these dogs snap without warning, what did their last bad interaction look like, is their behavior together different off leash, on the walk, or in the van, etc etc. Then i'd be asking them what they thought of the two dogs emotional state around each other and having them tell me what they were basing that off of before admitting the dogs were actually fine. I've never done this, so maybe it's not a great idea, but if i was fully in charge of hiring it's something i might try.

You want someone who is reliable, knows where their gear is at all times, who always shows up fully prepared for the day, who accepts responsibility for their actions and understands the dogs' health and safety are in their hands while they have those dogs. Someone who can keep track of who threw up, and what that looked like, and why it's important to pass that on to the owners. Someone who can tell when the dogs are getting too hot, who notices a slight limp, who is on the look out for ticks and foxtails and discarded cooked chicken and pork bones.

And you want someone who is very patient and doesn't have any flares of temper.

And lastly, here's one that was harder for me to look for: someone who can be decisive and firm. Dave from the previous post has a lot of trouble telling dogs that their behavior is unacceptable. The dogs i walk will mostly listen when i tell them to drop a chicken bone because they know i'll reach all the way down their throat after it; they know to shut down a fight before it really gets going when i tell them to shut it down because they know i'll climb back there and haul them apart and make them not fight if i have to; they know to stop gearing up to bark at someone else's dog on the walk because i'm already telling them i see what they're thinking and i'll turn them around to walk the other way or blow air in their face or dump water on them or wheelbarrow them to distract them or whatever else -- the point is i'm not going to stand for them behaving badly.

But Dave will be too soft and will give up too easily. He'll make a soft attempt to get a bone away from a dog and then throw his hands up and concede, he'll tell a dog that's already barking not to bark at other dogs, but then he won't do much to enforce it, and he won't give them a warning the instant he sees that they are tense about the other dog in the first place. As a result his dogs misbehave a lot more. So you need someone who isn't too soft, and will be proactive and act decisively, but without ever getting angry about it. And who balances that out by actively creating a positive relationship with the dogs founded on mutual respect. You want a person who isn't afraid to take corrective action, but who leads with positive preventative action first.

And so, dear hatchan, that is my answer

[silversword7000]

☕️Bridge Crew Coffee Headcanons☕️

Author’s Note: I indicated TOS and AOS for Kirk because each version gives me wildly different vibes about coffee but the rest of them can be read as either TOS or AOS🥰

Kirk:

TOS Kirk would have coffee occasionally and only put a splash of cream in it.

He would absolutely have a special cup for coffee so it is more of a treat though!

AOS Kirk would put 20000000 sugars and creamers in his coffee and also he should NOT be allowed to have coffee ever because he will have 50 cups in a day if no one (Bones) stops him.

He would absolutely love coffee though and like TOS Kirk he would have a special cup but AOS Kirk would have a blinged out reusable to go cup✨

Spock:

Spock would NOT drink coffee. He hates the bitter taste of it and even if it was doctored up, he still wouldn’t like it.

Caffeine would not agree with his Vulcan half…

McCoy:

He has a caffeine addiction.

With all the bullcrap he has to deal with on a daily basis I do not blame him.

He also doesn’t have time to sleep often so…yeah.

He drinks his coffee black. The bitterness reminds him of how he feels when people (Jim) are constantly getting themselves hurt in idiotic ways.

The only time he ever drinks it any other way is when Uhura makes him latte art. Even though he prefers it black, he enjoys seeing how excited she gets about doing it.

If anyone tries interacting with him before he has his coffee, he will kill them. All of the other medical officers stay far away from him until he has his first cup.

Scotty:

You already know my man is not bothering with coffee unless it has alcohol in it.

Scotty is able to wake himself up pretty quickly. He just gets up and he’s ready to go! So, he’s never had the need to drink any coffee.

Frankly, he just doesn’t enjoy the taste of it.

Uhura:

Uhura would love to start her day by having a nice cup of coffee! It is part of her morning ritual. ☀️

She has a few mugs that she swaps out to have some variety, but her favorite is her pink Hello Kitty mug that her mother gifted to her. (Hello Kitty would stand the test of time, I make the rules and you know I’m right.)

She puts some half and half as well as a little sugar in her coffee most days, but sometimes she switches it up for funzies to varied results.

One day on shore leave, a friend of hers taught her how to do latte art and she has been OBSESSED with it since.

She has her own coffee machine and she brings it to the rec area some mornings to make latte art for other crew members! She loves making hearts and leaves the most!

Her favorite part is seeing others smile when she gives them their special coffee <3

Because she knows how much he needs it, sometimes she lets Bones use her coffee machine to get a fresh cup.

She likes to make him special latte art when she is on breaks because she loves seeing how it cheers him up!

Sulu:

Sulu only ever has coffee on special occasions.

It’s not something he needs every day so he only ever has one when he is on shore leave or vacation and it strikes his fancy.

He loves to try specialty coffees from different places to taste the regional differences.

Chekov:

Chekov LOVES coffee.

However, he is not allowed to have it after…the incident.

Scotty installed a special sensor on the replicators so that if he tries to make a coffee, it doesn’t work.

If Chekov does have coffee…oh boy, strap in. He is like a little kid with a sugar rush! Pavel will NOT be able to sit still to the point where it impedes his work and annoys everyone around him.

He is bouncing off the walls like nobody’s business!

The last time Pavel got his hands on some coffee while he was on duty, Sulu was assigned to wrangle him. It ended with Pavel tied to a chair and gagged.

So yeah the entire bridge crew knows NEVER to let him have any coffee anymore.

💫Thank you so much for reading!! Reblogs and comments are adored <3💫

[jadetheblade4]

Are They Stupid?

A Dog Man Fanfic by Swirly Twirly

☆☆☆

Summary: Petey escapes Cat Jail, but the local guard that checks up on him is the one on his tail!! Will the shennanigans ever cease... (Takes place somewhere before A Tale Of Two Kitties) (Not a ship thing sorry weirdos but this gal wants to write for the silly of it ^_^)

☆☆☆

Part 1:

It was yet another normal day at Cat Jail, Collardale. The guard was doing his normal everyday rounds, albeit with a positive demeanor. He had been having a great day so far, thinking that nothing much could ruin it. He went to Petey's cell with a skip in his step.

"Gooooooood morning, Petey!" proclaimed the Guard, banging onto the cold metal bars of the cell. Petey, startled by this sudden noise, lifted his head up from his piles of papers and blueprints of escape. His face contorted into an annoyed glance once he saw who it was, his ears turned downward in disinterest.

"Aaaaaand goodbye to you, Guard..." Petey retorts, waving him off and continuing to work on his plans.

The guard chuckled. "Aw, cheer up, buddy! Big Jim and a bunch of other cats are planning on taking a sewing class today. You should join them!"

"Don't call me buddy! Besides, why would I want to be with any of those nut jobs? They're all stupid goofballs that don't have anything better to do with their life!" Petey took great offense in that chuckle, even slightly hissing his words to subconciously tell him to back off.

The guard tilts his head slightly, frowning a bit. "Then...what are you doing with your time?" he questioned, leaning onto the bars of Petey's cell. 

Petey's sneer immediately dissapears the moment he realizes how suspicious he looks. "I- um...Well..." he stutters, trying to find something to pass off as an excuse. Suddenly, his ears perk up, a quick idea passing through his genius mind.

He picked up a piece of paper that was a shopping list of some sort but for evil machinery. The contents didn't matter, though. He turned it over and quickly doodled a crude-looking drawing of the guard and himself holding hands, trying to make it as nice as possible with his ratty artstyle.

"Well, for your information... I'm...drawing a picture!! Of us!! Hanging out or whatever, just come see it!" proclaimed the orange cat, waving the drawing above his head.

The guard's face lights up in glee. "Really, Petey? You drew a picture for me??" he squealed in excitement. He never would've thought that Petey would do something nice for him for a change!

Petey nods convincingly. "Uh huh, just open the cell door and come inside to see it!!"

Unlocking the door to petey's cell, the guard steps inside gleefully. "What does it look like? Oh, I hope you capture my likeness onto it!!"

"Yeah, yeah, here ya go, I made it with care and whatnot, blah blah blah sappy stuff..." Petey shoves the drawing onto the guard, who happily accepted it.  The guard's eyes go wide as he scans the picture. A huge grin spreads across his face. "Aw, Petey, I love it!!! It looks so nice!!! C'mere you!!" He goes over to him and pulls him into a tight and loving hug.

"Oof!" Petey's breath slips out of him as he's trapped in the guard's iron grip. "Ok, man, hands off the merchandise!!" He squirms, trying to get away, but the guy has no plans of letting him go at the moment.

"This is the most thoughtful gift i have ever recieved in my whole entire life!!!! the guard proclaimed, continuing to cuddle him more. He comically spins him around and even kisses his cheek a couple of times, the gift really meaning a lot to him somehow.

"EUGH!! Alright ALRIGHT I GET IT I'm such a great pal now GET OFF!!!" Petey wriggled around his grasp until he popped off. He let out a "hmph!" as he tidied himself up from his sudden invasion of privacy. The guard jumped off to the side, a bit hurt by Petey's sudden cold nature. The orange cat notices his sudden deflate and feels a certain pull in his heart. "I mean, uh, no problem... figured I'd repay you for dealing with my, uh, schemes and stuff..." Petey stuttered, shifting his feet.

The guard's face lights back up again as he looks back at the picture. "Aww, it's nothing, Petey!! Just doing my duty!!" he said. Petey let out a smile, strangely happy about his half-assed drawing. He then shakes his head and tries to focus on the task at hand.

"I was thinking about hanging it up over there on the right side corner of my cell, can ya be a dear and put it there for me?" he bats his eyes innocently and points to said corner. The guard happily agreed. "Of course, dear pal!" He gives him one final hug and rushes to the wall to hang it up.

With a devious smile on his face, he tiptoes out of the cell. "Heheh, what a doofus..." the cat giggled. A few moments later, he escapes from the jail once more. "Ahh, finally! I can get back to doing what i usually do..." He walks back to his lab and breathes a sigh of relief. "The life...OF CRIME!!! HAW HAW HAW!!!!" he announces. The large building echoed his words, alerting the butler from the staircase.

"Heya Petey! Been a while since I've seen you around!!" he quickly steps down and joins him as Petey parades around his home. "Breaking out this time was a bit difficult," Petey went on, "but now things can finally get back on tra-"

A tv at the corner of the supposed room they're in suddenly announces its lovely presence by blaring breaking news from its LD screen. Petey and Butler turn their attention to the tv. It shows none other than Sarah Hatoff,  greatest reporter, in front of the very Cat Jail Petey just escaped from moments ago.

"BREAKING NEWS, FELLOW CITIZENS OF COLLARDALE!!!" Sarah declared. "We are currently receiving reports of a runaway warden of sorts from the Cat Jail looking for a certain fiendish feline...PETEY!!!" A mugshot of his face is shown on the screen right next to a goofy-looking photo of the guard, to which Petey frowns upon. "He informs us that if we see the cat anywhere to report to him...and...only him." Sarah scratched her head in confusion. "Huh. Guess the police aren't needed. This is Sarah Hatoff, signing out."

The butler turned to Petey. "Huh, I guess you don't need to, after all!" he said with a dumbass smile on his face. Petey grimaces and pinches the middle of his forehead in frustration. "AAUGH....Why is there always SOMETHING to ruin the mood..." he groaned, marching up the steps to the lab's roof with the butler following right behind. 

Up above, Petey and the butler scan their surroundings. The day-to-day hustle and bustle of the city rings out from below, showing no sign of anything unusual. The butler tilts his head. "Nobody here yet..." he muttered.

The orange cat crossed his shoulders and shook his head. "...Hmph! What am I even worried about anyways?!?" He laughed at how absurd he was acting at the moment to save face as he started walking back towards the stairs. "This lab is one of the most discrete and perfectly hidden buildings in all of the city of Collardale! It'll take a while before-"

A loud buzz-like sound suddenly calls out and the pair jumped in suprise. Petey rushed back and leaned over the roof once more to see a tiny guard waiting patiently at the door, pressing the goddamn buzzer.

"HOW DID HE FIND MY LAB!?!" Petey screamed. He quickly covered his mouth and dragged Butler down to the ground before Guard could see up above. He grabbed his butler by the shirt and whispered, "How did he find my lab?!?!?!"

The butler shrugged. "Gee, Petey, I don't have a clue how the guy could think of coming here."

"Hmm...strange." Petey let him go and scratched his head. He peered over the roof to look at his big fat-ass "PETEY'S SECRET LAB" sign. "Oh, by the way, I think you need to change a few of the lightbulbs on my lab's sign this weekend. A few of them are starting to fade out."

The butler rolled his eyes and sighed. "I'll buy lightbulbs later this evening, I guess..." he muttered again, peering over and looking at the sign with him.

Petey raised his eyebrow. "Also, quit muttering and mumbling so much, it's starting to irritate me >:( ."

The guard pressed the buzzer again. His hand contained a small piece of paper. "Helloooo?"  he called out. "I'm an authority from the local Cat Jail! Is anyone home?" He looked up at the tall building, to which Petey noticed just in time and ducked. Unfortunately, the butler ducked a bit too late, therefore leading the guard to only catch sight of him and not Petey.

"Oh, hey there! I just wanted to ask a couple of questions, if ya don't mind!!" he shouted from below to up above. The butler pops out again and gives a thumbs up, then goes down again.

Petey facepalms himself and groans annoyingly. He then faces the butler, who smiled sheepishly.

"You better not tell him im here. In fact, make him regret coming here in the first place!! I don't wanna be involved with the guy any further!!" he yelled, grudgingly going downstairs.

The butler shifted uneasily in place. "Uh, sure, Petey... I'll see what I can do, I guess..." he mumbled once more as he followed the grumpy cat.

[inexplicablymine]

Time for an ask!

How do you think Alex’s introduction to David went? Who was more excited?

Short Answer: They are equally excited and Henry is a little butt hurt that Alex is able to get along so easily with David (but secretly thrilled).

Long answer: a canon-compliant if you squint Ficlet for you because this ask SENT ME PLACES. (see below to keep reading)

My Two Favorite Royals

“Oh stop wait you know what would make this better,”

“What Alex,” Henry asks in an exasperated tone, he is already hanging on by a thread at seeing the object of his every fantasy in threadbare joggers and glasses. Alex grabbing his hand only moments ago to take a photo for Instagram almost made him vibrate out of his skin.

“Where is your dog?”

Henry sputters back, “My, my dog? What on earth- how do you know about my dog?”

Alex sends a lazy smile his way, “It was on your fact sheet sweetheart do keep up.”

Henry tries not to let the momentary confusion or the nickname get the best of him. He knows with certainty that anything about David wasn’t on that blasted fact sheet that was so wrong it could have been made for a complete stranger.

Alex is standing now pushing his laptop closed and looking up at Henry eagerly. It's a face Henry couldn’t possibly ignore.

With a resigned sigh Henry turns and walks towards his bedroom. He can’t help but think about how he has never had a boy in his bedroom. Sure Pez, but that didn’t count. And now… now his inescapable insufferable crush was going to be waltzing into his bedroom of all things looking like a wet dream walking.

Henry is ripped from his internal monologue by a shout and Alex running in front of him to David.

He can’t tell who is more excited, his beagle, who is shaking so much his entire body is wiggling with every tail wag, or Alex, who immediately drops to the floor arms open wide to accept the wriggling dog into his arms.

“Ohhhh such a good boy, yes you are, what a handsome dog, the most important royal yes you are,” Alex coos. Henry can feel his heart bursting at the sight. Alex’s uncontrollable laughter when David starts licking him, and the way he sits fully against the wall legs splayed out and glasses askew is giving him heart palpitations.

Alex looks up smiling, “Not sure how such a cute dog got stuck with such a stuck up owner but I might just have to take him home for myself.”

“Excuse me! Stuck up? You can’t take David he is the only thing that keeps me sane in this prison cell.”

Alex looks a little startled by the outburst and pauses to pat the ground next to him.

“Want to elaborate on that sweetheart.”

Henry isn’t sure when the nickname came to be but he isn’t going to ask for it to stop. So he sits down, completely undignified in his jim jams, and lets David break the ice between them.

The next two hours are spent with their hands accidentally touching while they pet David. Alex pesters Henry for more answers, real answers, about his life than he has ever been asked before.

They argue about David’s name and Alex says his only saving grace is that he is no longer a mystery to Alex but the rest of the world can stay that way. It warms him up from the inside. He doesn’t want to look too hard into anything or give himself a false sense of hope.

Maybe Alex is just this touchy with everyone. Maybe the nicknames aren’t just for him. Maybe he also holds someone’s hand in his own as he puts his number into their phone demanding daily updates of David or incurring his wrath.

When Alex is somewhere over the Atlantic he gets a notification link on his phone to an Instagram post.

Alex in his glasses and sweats holding David mid laughter. Henry next to him also laughing. The Crown is going to kill him for looking so unprofessional, but the caption is what stops him short.

“Had to hop across the pond to visit my two favorite royals (don’t tell Henry that David is really my favorite)”

Henry can’t stop the way his heart jumps at being called a favorite anything of Alex’s.

He scrolls down to the comments and sees a wave of support.

Comments about how real their friendship is, how cute David is, how real friends wouldn’t have photos like this together, how the bromance is real.

His heart doesn’t stop thumping with every text back and forth with Alex that evening. Or the next.

His heart is in his throat with every phone call, it pitters restlessly when he receives selfies from the bed, it leaps when he gets a phone call at thanksgiving, and clenches dangerously when he finally ends the call on Christmas Eve.

A year and a half after that selfie was posted to Instagram they are sitting on a low leather couch in a brownstone in Brooklyn. A place that Henry never expected to call home. Alex is in sweats and Henry is wearing one of Alex’s NYU sweatshirts. They are currently arguing over which season of The Great British Bake Off to watch when Alex gets an alert on his phone.

He looks down and laughs. Henry doesn’t have a moment to ask what it’s about before Alex is dragging David up from his place between the two of them into his arms. David lets out a small huff but quickly relaxes back into Alex, where he has found home in the past year just as easily as Henry.

“Smile babe,”

Henry has learned not to question Alex so he leans in and smiles, realizing just how easy it is now to let the corners of his mouth curl up.

A few moments of tapping and Alex sets his phone down on the table with a flourish.

“So are you going to share what that was about?” Henry lightly pesters.

“Only putting an online debate to rest, you might want to mute your notifications sweetheart.”

Oh god what has he done now, is all Henry can think as he pulls his own phone up.

Posted on his Instagram Alex has created a slideshow of photos. The one he just took at the front of the group. As Henry swipes through he can’t help but smile as image after image of the three of them, Alex, Henry, and David are together. The final photo makes his breath catch. There they are on the floor of Kensington Palace, long before anything happened, long before Henry knew just how wonderful his life might turn out to be.

The caption is simple and sweet,

“Just wanted to update y’all on how it’s going with my two favorite royals. (Don't tell David but Henry is my favorite.)”

[darkness-and-books]

As You Wish

James Kirk x gn!reader

⚠️: none really, for some reason reader hasn’t seen the Princess Bride

word count: 1,007

Jim was nice to you, but you thought nothing of it, he’s just a guy right? He was friends with everyone so it couldn’t be a big deal that he visited you in engineering yesterday morning. “Hey, Y/N!” Kirk greeted gleefully, “ow!” You sucked in a breath and attempted not to curse as you had hit your head on the counter you were working under. “Sorry! Are you alright?” He recoiled as he heard tools begin to clatter. “Yeah, I’m good. What’s up Jim?” You assured as you slid out from under the table, covered in grease and various other unidentified debris. “Well” Jim hesitated as he rocked on his heels with his hands held behind his back. “Brought you some water and a snack because Scotty said he hadn’t seen you leave the engine room since lunch yesterday” he finished in a rush as he held out the food and drink. “Aww, thanks you didn’t have to do that” You thanked him as you stood up. “Hey could ya open those for me” you requested, referring to the bag of pretzels Jim had brought. “Greasy hands” you explained as you waved your hands up in evidence of your point. “As you wish” Jim smiled as he opened it for you. “Oh hey, before you go, can I ask you a favour?” You asked Jim just as he set the pretzels on the table you had just been working under. “Of course, Y/N. What do you need?” Jim agreed instantly, “it shouldn’t take long, but it would be great if you could hold some wires in place for me while I secure them” you stated. Jim was already getting on the ground next to you as he said once more “As you wish”. ——— Or this morning when he was making a run for coffee and asked if you wanted some. Would have asked other people if they didn’t already have their own coffee, right? “Hey, Y/N! I’m getting coffee, you want some?” Jim asked before heading over to the turbo lift. “Yeah, could I have mine with ice though?” You asked, “As you wish” he replied just before hopping into the turbo lift. McCoy turned to you, “How in the stars are you still single?” He remarked, “What are you talking about?” You asked. “His ‘as you wish’ business?!?” McCoy pointed out, “I’m sure he says that to everyone!” You argue. “Oh bless your heart, he doesn’t say that to anyone else, and have you never seen the Princess Bride?” McCoy rambled. “No, what has that got to do with anything?” You ask defensively, “you’ll see, come to my quarters and we’ll watch it after my shift is over” McCoy stated simply, it wasn’t so much an offer as it was an order. Kirk came back a few moments later with coffee that you quite honestly forgot you had asked for. “Thank you” you said as you took it from him, “Of course” Jim replied, giving a cordial nod. ——— The shift had passed slowly, but it was over now and you were on your way to McCoy’s quarters to see a movie that would supposedly clear things up. You put the pin in the keypad (not that you’re supposed to have it, but what Starfleet Command doesn’t know, won’t hurt them). “Oh, hey!” McCoy greets before pausing a moment, “how’d you get in?” He asked in realisation. “I’m in engineering” you state plainly. Leonard seems a bit concerned by this, but moves to put on the movie anyway. “Sit down, you’re not gonna wanna stand the whole time” He says looking up to you from the couch. ———

An hour and a half later and all you could really remember of the movie was When he was saying as you wish, what he meant was I love you. You turned slowly to look at Leonard “and Jim’s seen this movie?!?” You ask in disbelief, “one of his favourites in fact” McCoy stated casually, as if this weren’t Earth shattering information. You ran out of the room and down the hall to Jim’s quarters. You had to do this before your courage ran away from you. You knocked on the door (you’re not really sure why you did it since there’s bell, but moving on), it was only a few moments before the door slid open. “May I have some tea” you requested quietly, you were banking on him saying it again, otherwise this didn’t work and it was just a random request for tea. Jim smiled down at you “As you wish” he declared softly and simply as he moved for you to come in. “I love you too” you had said just as he was turning around. You had said it so quietly that for a moment you weren’t sure Jim had heard you, if that were the case you were entirely prepared to forget about this. He turned toward you again and pulled you into a hug, it was full of warmth and it was tight. He pulled back to give you a kiss, just as warm and pleasant as his hug. Jim pulled away “Did you still want that cup of tea” he asked with a smirk, “as long as you’re offering” you say as you walk the rest of the way into his quarters. Something could vaguely be heard one room over, but you figure nothing of it. ————— Bonus scene: McCoy and Scotty had run into Spock’s quarters to put their ears against the wall closest to Kirk’s room. “Pay up, Scotty!” McCoy nearly shouts, “I told you I could do it!!” Scotty grumbles to himself as he pulls out his wallet. “Excuse me gentlemen, but I would appreciate it if you could leave now” Spock deadpanned, Leonard and Scotty look over to see Spock, wet and still wrapped in a towel. “I really hope you sleep in pyjamas, otherwise that’s a mental image I really don’t need!” McCoy spit as he and Scotty went back to their respective rooms.

Also this is what I used as the layout for the quarters in case you were wondering.

[moaserendipity]

My Top 10 BL's of 2023

I am back with my personal top 10 of 2023. I know I've been super quiet these days but making a top 10 is always fun to do. The #1 has been decided early this past year but for the rest... It was a crazy year for BL but only a few were really top tier...🔥🔥

10. My Personal Weatherman (Taikan Yoho)

One of the Japanese BL's I really enjoyed watching. It was more grown up then the ones I've seen and that was very welcome. I love the dynamics between the main characters a lot. It was a bit of a slow one, with the lack in communication between the two but I forgive that because the chemistry was really good.

09. Wedding Plan

Oh how i looked forward to this one, the second I saw the trailer. I loved the storyline but I thought it was very short, which made them rush through it at times, which was a shame because it was actually really good and I just wanted to see more. I loved the chemistry between Sailom and Namnuea, So I really enjoyed watching them. They are very new if I'm correct but I didn't notice it at all, so hopefully they will get another BL together but a longer one. Also I love the GL in this BL, it was very natural and I in the end hoped they would be the ones that got to marry. Not to forget about the cameo;s of my babies Payu and Rain and of course Prapai and Sky.

08. Moonlight Chicken

This one I've waited for so so long and it was kind of a surprise because I love EarthMix, Like Mix is my man but my attention got taken away from them and got attached to GemFourth who played Li Ming and Heart. I just loved everything about them! I loved how they incorporated Sign language because Heart was deaf and just the overall chemistry between them, was everything. They made me smile so much. Jim and Wen, you know were amazing as well but I sometimes felt frustrated by their interaction. The close moments they had were amazing of course but it was not what I expected from EarthMix but overall this drama was definitely worth the wait!

07. Kiseki: Dear to Me

I absolutely loved this one. I couldn't get enough of it. I am a sucker for the Hate to Love trope and this had exactly that and in a gangster way. Like I loved it. ZeRui and Bangyi were made for each other and you can't tell me otherwise how he went to prison for ZeRui and even got hurt but he still decided to dedicate his bakery to him with his Strawberry cakes, ugh too cute. The second couple made me want even more. The sassiness of Ai Di and the coldness of Chen Yi, they were really something. The way Chen Yi didn't realize that Ai Di loved him until he went to prison or that one hot night made me slap my forehead because nothing was more obvious, so I can not explain how happy I was they finally got together in the end!!

06. My School President

This really was a GemFourth year because this was their first leading BL and boy how they won us over with their cuteness. The OST was also seriously top tier. I think I loved all the songs. This entire Cast was amazing! To think I almost skipped this one...That would've been a mistake for sure, so I'm happy that I decided to give it another try because I fell in love with them and bingewatched it in one go. I can't wait to see the next project from them.!

5. Our Dating Sim

this Korean BL was a welcome one. I loved the office setting of this BL and the fact that the episodes were short as usual, didn't disturb me that much. Their chemistry made up for that! I will never forget how my heart sank when Ki Tae thought Wan had disappeared again, this poor man but I loved how Wan immediately comforted him the second he saw him. I should really rewatch this again.

4. Last Twilight

I know it's still running but I can not leave it out of my top10 for 2023. I am impressed with Jimmy and Sea. These two are everything to me at this moment. Their chemistry is crazy and I am happy they have this BL to show their talents again. I am impatiently waiting every week for the next episode and so far no episode has disappointed me, which is rare tbh.

3. Sing my Crush

Sing my crush was not even on my radar but the second I came across it, I bingewatched it. I am a sucker for music BL's, where the actors can ACTUALLY sing and play instruments.. I loved it so much. from start to finish. I really think this BL was very underrated. I did not hear a lot of people about it but it definitely deserves more!

2. I feel you linger in the Air

Ever since I saw the trailer, I wanted to see this one badly and boy did it not disappoint! I was in awe every episode. I don't think I've ever seen a Thai Bl that was staged in the past. Also this way of time traveling is one I actually like. As long as no bodies get switched I am loving it. Their chemistry was top notch and those intimate scenes. That kiss in the rain, Art I am telling you and that massage scene, HELLO!! I literally forgot to breathe at that point and my face was almost stuck to the screen, crazy!! So yeah this was a true masterpiece!

01. The Eighth Sense

Let's all act surprised by this one...... what can I say? This one touched my intire being. It touched my soul, My heart everything. I cried, laughed and even cursed at 2 people in particular.. This is the biggest masterpiece of 2023 and nothing can change my mind about this. The way I anticipated every week and felt sad when it ended, ugh!! I just want to praise Oh Jun Taek for the way he acted, because if I'm correct this was his first acting job or at least he is very new but he pulled it of perfectly and Ji sub, I am applauding him for the way he portrayed Jae Won. All I need now is a season 2 or an special episode where we see them do the things Jihyun wanted... like just please!! In al seriousness everything was amazing about this one and that's why it's my number 1

I really do think that the Korean BL's won this round. I feel like they are finally stepping up their game. It's still not as Explicit as Thai or Taiwanese but that's not what I am expecting. I don't always have to have NC scenes because without a story, it's not worth a lot. Overal the Bl's were powerful this year and Top tier. Hopefully next year will bring us even better ones!! <3

[exilynn]

title: 𝕰𝖈𝖍𝖔𝖊𝖘 𝕹𝖔𝖈𝖙𝖊𝖗𝖎𝖘( Modern Eddie x OC)

synopsis:

"They say that the legend of Nocteris echoes only in the hearts destined to meet. But what if this echo is so strong that it transcends time and memory?"

Love never made sense to Eddie Munson.

With a cynical view and a shielded heart, he believed that fate was always against him. Until a girl came into his life, and everything changed.

He rolled a 2 and saw her for the first time, laughing with her friends while he played with his band.

He rolled a 5 and, that night without rules, she gave him a glimpse of something deeper in the night.

He rolled a 7 and showered her with compliments at graduation, and for the first time, he saw her beyond the idealized girl – she had something much deeper.

He rolled a 10 and, while she was going through her own inner struggles, he found himself wanting to protect her, but not knowing how.

He rolled a 12 and, after a night full of laughter and confessions, he realized that she was changing his view of love.

He rolled a 15 and, even when everything seemed confused, their hearts were more connected by the echo of feelings.

And when he rolled a 20, he knew that love was never a game, and that he had won the lottery of love, but had no idea, until it happened. The bat of Love bit your soul, and nothing would be the same again.

♥ format: longfic; canon divergence, headcanon's

Characters:

♥ pairing: modern eddie x fem oc( self insertion)

♥ warning:

Eddie Munson/Original Female Character(s), Alternate Universe - Canon Divergence, Angst, Slow Burn, Sexual Tension, Drug Use, Childhood Trauma, Hurt/Comfort, Sadness/Grief, Childhood Friends, Original Character(s), Bullying, Eddie Munson Needs a Hug, Protective Eddie Munson, Background Hellfire Club (Stranger Things), Basketball Eddie Munson, Explicit Sexual Content, Eddie Munson has a Crush on Quinn Josephine, So many references 80's time, Eddie Munson Has a Sister, Eddie Munson moms Headcanon, Past Jason Carver/Eddie Munson, Alternate Universe - Different First Meeting, Antonella Munson, Corroded Coffin Concert (Stranger Things), Minor Eddie Munson/Original Character(s), Adopted Sibling Relationship, Quinn Josephine has a Crush on Eddie Munson, Loss of Virginity, Good Friend Dustin Henderson, A rewrite of Stranger Things for Eddie Non-canon Love Circle, Alternate Universe - No Upside Down (Stranger Things), Protective Parent Jim "Chief" Hopper, Denial of Feelings, Good Friend Eddie Munson, Character Death, Smoking, Eddie Munson Lives, Blow Jobs, Eddie Munson is an ABBA Fan, Eddie Munson is Whipped, Eddie is a simp but just for Quinn, Eddie Munson has Golden Retriever Energy, Eddie Munson Has a Praise Kink, Eddie Munson Has a Daddy Kink, Eddie Munson Has a Breeding Kink, Degradation Kink, Sexual Overstimulation, Eddie Munson is an Rob Zombie Fan

— Note; If you're interested, comment, don't be ashamed to support a writer <3

Good reading! 🫦♥️

4. Howling Prom

Eddie Munson

—" If you get thrown out of a Chevrolet, what do you get? A broken leg? A rib?"

That’s what I think about, almost obsessively. My sister watches me, suspecting we’ll never be a united family again.

Resentments are heavy. I can’t live as a creature of the shadows anymore, brooding over the darkness my father left in me.

— This isn’t what I expected from you... One moment you hate him, the next you still like the old man? — Nelly insists.

— I’m not a fan of forcing situations. It gets tiring feeding resentment, coldness... I’ve been surviving hell since I was a teenager. Almost an era of condemnations.

— I hate the divorce too, but we’re not the saviors of their relationship, Eddie!

She’s not wrong. I still have a little bit of that poison in my veins.

— We took too long to realize that Mom loves the old capitalist. I don’t want to live in the darkness of resentment anymore. Got it? — I spit the words out, not angry now.

I think the problem is us. There’s a bitter gulp of escapism in that. We’re immortal creatures trapped in our own human stupidity.

— I think happy days can come back for the Munsons. I was happy with Wayne. Maybe the darkness of the family has passed... — I declare.

— Since when did you get so emotional? — Nelly raises an eyebrow.

— Thank the girl from Howling, the savior of creatures from the dark.

I love being saved by that girl I’ve waited for since my birth on this green and blue pile called planet Earth.

— Nice to see changes, but I’ll call her the healer, okay? — she comments, without mockery.

— Call her Miss Munson. Can I already plan my nerdy wedding?

— Or should I call her the mother of your hobbit-footed elves? — She laughs, referencing The Hobbit.

I smile, but soon I notice her serious gaze. The question she’s not asking: Do I distrust her, or do I trust she only wants what's best for me?

My mind almost short-circuits. Mental breakdown or metal breakdown? Obviously, I’m the son of heavy metal.

I don’t see Antonella like that, even though she hurt me, gave me a childhood trauma. Deep down, she cares.

— I kindly ask that you don’t fool a time traveler. You don’t need to worry about my failed love affairs.

— Really? Let me remind you that you loved Quinn when she said that hi at the Howling playground.

— Here you go again, talking about Quinn. What’s the obsession?

— I don’t know, Eddie... I think you need a bucket of cold water. Wake up!

— No. I am the law of my own life.

She looks at me seriously.

— Put on some music, so we can banish this damn melancholy. — I suggest.

The balance is restored when we talk about music. I listen to Anthrax, Maiden... she listens to Deftones.

— Do you still have that Maiden CD I gave you?

— It was you? I thought it was Wayne!

My life has been a lie. I never imagined Antonella gave it to me.

— Why don’t you go back to Uncle Wayne, since you like the country guy so much? — she shoots, jealous.

— Do you like my company, sis?

She laughs, denying the jealousy.

— It’s normal to feel that way when someone takes your place as a sister...

— But Wayne didn’t take it. You’re useful, Nelly.

— Useful? What a lovely compliment... — she rolls her eyes.

— At least you don’t think I’m an idiot. Most people see me as a weird, futureless metalhead.

— Oh, I think you’re a useful idiot, little bro.

I decide to drop the emotions and enjoy Strange World by Iron Maiden while Nelly drives.

— What if there was an all-female Maiden? Wouldn’t it be cool to see girls playing guitar? Like Babymetal?

I’m surprised. She’s not mocking my favorite band.

— What the hell is this? If you want something bold, rewind the tape and look better.

She laughs and rolls her eyes.

The melody of Halcyon and On and On guides me into a relaxing state, until Can’t Fight This Feeling by REO Speedwagon starts.

— This song takes me back. As if the memories chase me, no matter where I go... — I murmur, closing my eyes.

— The heart beats violently, as if it’s being hit. Doesn’t it?

Nelly opens the sunroof, revealing the stars.

— Why do I wait for Quinn, if she abandoned me, like our father?

My sister has no answer, but fate shuffles the cards.

— Every story has two sides: the truth and each person’s version. Don’t hate the girl without knowing the truth, Eddie.

I shake my head, expressionless.

Maybe it’s not so terrible to give the past another chance.

Nelly disapproves, but I don’t say anything.

I know Lily affects me, but Quinn... Quinn was my watercolor.

And before her, blue was just another color. Now, it’s no longer pain. Now, it’s love.

— I don’t know what else to say without starting a fight with you, Eddie...

Nelly laments, banging her head on the steering wheel. Before she hurts herself, I hold her shoulder and mutter:

— Fine, your melodramatic show encouraged me.

She stares at me, unbelieving, until a strange smile appears on her face.

— Oh, already? Did you get eaten by the courage dragon?

Surprised by how much I helped, she watches me like she hasn’t done anything special.

— Any trigger can be the fatal shot, Nelly.

I take a sip of hope and make a bullet-shattering sound as it hits the target.

•••

We arrive at Linda’s house. I get out of the car and wait for someone to appear. Nothing. I ring the doorbell. Silence.

Consumed by impatience, I start throwing rocks at the window, looking like one of those 50s romance movies.

Normally, giving up isn’t an option. But this time, there’s no choice.

I signal to Nelly that the house is empty. The lights off confirm my frustration. I kick a few stones on the way back and sink into the seat, feeling the rage grow.

— Setbacks happen, Eddie. She might’ve been late and will meet you there...

— PUT THE PEDAL TO THE METAL! — I rant, frustrated.

I shift from calm to irritated as I open the car door.

— Try breaking my door and I’ll crush you, little bro! — she growls, impatient. Now we’re even.

Even though I accept I’ve been stood up, a voice hammers in my head: What if something happened to Lily?

---

We head to the graduation hall, the silence weighing heavily until Nelly decides to break it:

— Oh, stop whining for once in your life. Face it as a challenge!

— Sure, they want Jason. No one looks at Eddie, the weirdo... — I gesture air quotes, but she can’t take my drama.

— Keep feeling sorry for yourself, but what if... Quinn came back to town? Don’t waste time being the weirdo they want. Be the outlaw rocker!

— Damn, that was surgical! — My legs tremble with anxiety.

— I might not be good at giving advice, but I listen to you like I’m your friend.

— Siblings can’t be intimate friends...

— Eddie, are you mad? — She notices the change in my tone.

— No, Antonella.

— Call me Nelly? I hate fighting with you...

I stay quiet. Since I can remember, lying has become a bad habit.

She notices and changes the subject. Too smart to insist where she doesn’t want to go.

— I want to be the hostess at your graduation, since our mom can’t come. Be your mom for a night.

— Stop trying to bring positivity, or I’ll throw you out.

I tell the truth, and she pouts, upset.

— Are you going to kick me out of my own car?

— Fuck it, I don’t care.

I cross my arms and pretend to be indifferent.

I close my eyes and picture Linda Hansol’s smile. No matter how pissed I am at her lack of commitment to me... the girl is still my refuge in such an idiotic world.

— Let’s go in. — I adjust the wings of my costume, which got a little wrinkled.

I get out of the car before the courage that "kissed" me runs away.

This time, I won’t run.

At school, I was always cast as the rebel who avoided feelings. Maybe because I preferred throwing myself into extracurricular activities — the ones that had nothing to do with school. Like the Hellfire Club.

The student council was never of interest to me. It lacked substance. At Howling High, like any other school, no one seemed to care if girls were harassed by Carver's gang or if the boys' bathroom was disgusting.

Nelly and I walk toward the entrance of the hall. I’m anxious, impatient, and have no patience for conversations about feelings.

She looks at her watch and sarcastically says:

— What’s the rush? The girl’s not going to run off to the hills. Or is she, Eddie?

— Got the urge to pee.

— You should’ve gone before you got here. Now you're gonna commit the crime of peeing in front of your crush! — She lightly pushes me, laughing.

I make a face.

— Shouldn’t a stoner see nature as their habitat?

— Just because I used to smoke weed doesn’t mean I’m a forest nomad!

I shrug.

— Damn, this costume’s squeezing my balls... or what’s left of them.

She laughs, mocking.

— Intimacy is a bitch. — I roll my eyes.

Inside the hall, we find an empty spot, but my priority is the bathroom. I rush out, not paying attention.

In the heat of the moment, I walk straight in... and only realize the mistake when I see a girl standing in front of me, staring at me in shock.

— Excuse me? — She blinks, clearly surprised and uncomfortable. — I think you’re in the wrong bathroom.

Shit.

— Oh, shit, shit, shit... — I scold myself aloud, lightly hitting my head.

— Are you friends with Carver?

Her voice carries a hint of fear and surprise.

I freeze.

That voice... so familiar.

My mind spins as I try to remember where I know her from. But, stuck in this pathetic situation, my ability to think goes down the drain.

Unable to say anything that won’t make the mess worse, I leave the bathroom, pretending nothing happened.

The voice keeps echoing in my head like a scratched record.

But I don’t have time to get lost in that. Lily should have arrived by now.

I need to focus on what really matters.

Except, no matter how hard I try to leave the incident behind, that voice keeps haunting me.

And I can’t stand blank mysteries.

Outside, the rain falls heavily, thunder splits the sky, and the weather is definitely not playing around.

Inside the hall, however, no one seems to care. A group of graduates fights against the wind to get inside, and I make my way to Nelly before she finds me first. She’s excited, something rare to see.

— Hey, long-haired guy, I found you! — She smiles, analyzing me behind her glasses.

— Hey... — I try to sound normal, but my hands tremble.

— What did you do? — Nelly crosses her arms, looking at me suspiciously.

— Is everything I do wrong now? — I respond automatically, but my conscience falters.

— I don’t know... why that look of horror?

I take a deep breath.

— Okay... I... accidentally walked into the girls' bathroom.

She widens her eyes for a second before bursting into laughter, attracting looks. Great, exactly what I needed.

— Are you blind or just an idiot?

— I got the female sanctuary wrong, okay?

— What’s with that word, Eddie? — She makes a face, amused.

The hall is packed, about eight hundred people squeezed inside. Frankly, crowds were never my thing. My social battery runs out too quickly, and most of these people are just extras in my life.

After all, I’m always judged for being the "metal kid," as if my style says everything about me. But I’ve learned that fear is an untamable lion — and I try to tame that beast every day. The problem is that, deep down, I’m more of a hungry tiger than a tamer.

---

I make an effort to find her in the crowd, hoping she's just lost somewhere. Maybe it's the side effects of quitting drugs and falling for someone who gave up on truly getting to know me.

During this internal conflict, I spot Jamie and the guys from a distance.

I don't know if I feel betrayed, happy, or if I want to punch them, especially Jamie, who didn’t even show up to the party.

— Eddie! We’re over here! — Stiles yells, waving.

I approach. Jamie is dressed as Dracula. Stiles, as always, looks like he stepped out of a drag queen show. Takamori is wearing something typically Japanese.

— I told you Eddie would get a decent outfit! — Jamie pulls one of the wings of my costume. — Do these things fit you?

I roll my eyes.

— Are the old ladies fighting again? — Stiles laughs.

— Why didn’t God bring back the dinosaurs? — I mutter.

— You never take anything lightly, Munson.

— Oh, go screw yourself, Jamie.

He pushes me, laughing.

— I’m not a baby anymore, you know? And you guys don’t know the news.

— What news?

— It was just a one-night thing... — I shrug.

— Who was the lucky one? — they ask in unison.

— Does it matter?

They exchange weird looks.

— I thought you were inexperienced, Munson — Stiles teases.

— What did you expect? My uncle always kissed different “friends.”

— And who are you to judge then? — Jamie raises an eyebrow.

I sigh, not wanting to get into that debate.

— I’m not proud of it, but it was with Wayne’s girlfriend’s daughter. Annie, her name. I was thirteen.

— How old was she? — Stiles narrows his eyes.

— I don’t know... didn’t look underage.

— And you didn’t fall in love?

I let out a short laugh.

— Damn, Stiles, who falls in love with a finger?

— But don’t you like Quinn?

My expression hardens for a second before I let out another humorless laugh.

— She left. Am I supposed to stop my life for that?

Jamie shakes his head, dissatisfied.

— Would you give Annie a chance... today?

— If she wanted something, I’d tell her there’s no room in my heart.

— You’re so dumb, Munson. You could’ve been with the girl today, but you’re a coward.

— Women don’t like fighting men, right?

Takamori watches me silently before casually commenting:

— Why is the rocker acting different?

I ask myself the same thing.

— What planet are you guys living on? Eddie is the biggest perv in the group, he just hides it behind chivalry and a saintly face! — Jamie exclaims.

— I may be naughty, but I’m not the worst example of a man in Hellfire. — I retort, rolling my eyes.

For a second, I thought we were going to roll around the hall, almost killing each other, but something in the energy of the moment changed.

— At least I didn’t come dressed as a child! — Jamie taunts.

— Stick a firecracker up your ass and fly back to your mom, that planet Jupiter! — Nelly interjects.

— Chill, Antonella. His mom is cool... — I mumble under my breath.

— How embarrassing, be men! — Jamie tries to assert himself.

— “Be men?” — I repeat, feeling the urge to punch him grow. — The only one who needs to grow up here is you, Jamie. You’re a waste of a condom!

He smiles mockingly.

— And you, a failed copy of Alanfiero Munson.

My stomach churns. I’m not my father. What he did has nothing to do with me. I’m not an extension of his past, and I never will be. On the contrary, I’m a rough diamond — I just need to be polished.

They judge me for not knowing how to socialize with girls. They want sincere conversations, to feel cared for, protected. And me? I’m a walking disaster, incapable of offering anything solid.

“Love a woman’s imperfections, and she will love you in a way that will immortalize you for millennia.”

— The reality is that Jamie’s jealous because someone stole the spotlight tonight... And it was Eddie! — Stiles drops the bomb.

Jamie puffs up his chest.

— I’m the hottest guy in Howling! At least my crazy ex doesn’t stalk me like I’m a puppet.

I feel a strange relief for everything that went wrong before. If it weren’t for the betrayal, the breakup... I never would’ve met Linda Hansol. I never would’ve met Lily.

Oh, you could be mine. And you’d never cry over men who don’t know how to love a woman properly...

---

And no matter how long it takes to finish this book called Lily Hansol — I would devour every page as if it were a Tolkien masterpiece.

People are poems, they shouldn’t be read at the speed of light. But when I look at her, I see the most beautiful work ever written.

Lily stole every beat of my heart. Meeting her ignited the same fire I felt when reading The Fellowship of the Ring on a rainy afternoon.

That book captivated me as I plunged into the deepest waters of Elvish knowledge.

Today, I seek someone who loves my hurricanes, my wild, high tides. Someone to whom I can give the same love.

I want someone who isn’t afraid of chaos and will fight by my side. Not someone who packs their bags when my soul thunders. I am selfish when I love.

— The kind of man women love are vampires. — Jamie winks at Antonella, and my blood boils.

— Like you, soul suckers? — I ironize, making it clear what I think of the future union I’m already predicting.

— Sometimes you're an idiot, but... is your father called Zeus? — My sister sounds hypnotized by the blonde.

— Sorry, baby, but I skipped classes in... — Jamie frowns, trying to remember.

— Philosophy, idiot! — I cut in, clearing my throat.

Antonella doesn’t make it easier either. She must’ve smoked the joints I hid. I don’t know what’s more embarrassing: the sexual tension they pretend doesn’t exist or Nelly already electing Jamie as the future Munson.

I miss smoking. It was my escape to survive the damn adolescence. But if I stay away from drugs, maybe I won’t want to die before twenty-seven — the infamous dark age in the world of rock.

Hard to believe, but I’ve never watched the moonlight with my hands on someone. Outside of Hellfire Club, I’m just a guy wondering if aliens exist or what darker secrets this earthly ball hides... instead of worrying about this love thing.

— Eddie, there’s a girl on the dance floor. — Nelly nudges me, alert.

— I’m not going over there. She ditched the dance... — I point with my eyes, discreet.

— Idiot, go talk to the girl! — She practically pushes me.

— You think so? — I ask, trying to make sure it’s not a joke.

Eddie is far away. His mind wanders to the dance floor, where the lights flash in a colorful show.

Among familiar and unfamiliar faces, he sees her—Lily, the girl his sister pointed out. Could she really be his possible match?

The lights reflect off her red locks, her radiant expression. Every move she makes seems like an invitation, a celebration of friendship or something beginning to bloom. Eddie can’t look away. The world around him blurs, and only she stays in focus, illuminated by a rainbow of emotions.

Lily’s eyes shine, capturing the light almost magically. Eddie feels a tightness in his chest—nostalgia, yearning. The music vibrates, contrasting with the whirlwind of emotions he tries to contain.

He moves closer, positioning himself beside her, not sure how to start a conversation. After a few seconds of hesitation, he leans against the railing and casually says:

— Nice dress...

— You scared me, Eddie! — Lily turns around, surprise written on her face before breaking into a smile.

He stays there, watching her with a somewhat uncertain look.

— I thought you ditched the dance with me. — He rubs his neck nervously.

— I was going to meet you at home, but my dad wanted to bring me... — She makes an apologetic face.

— What matters is that you came. I thought it was going to be boring, but it’s not that bad.

— It’s well decorated. — She looks around.

— Do you like fluorescent things?

— They’re cool. — She watches him. — And you came as...?

Eddie smiles.

— Kas, from Dungeons & Dragons.

— Huh... I thought you’d come as a vampire.

— And you? Something literary, I imagine.

— Lily Munster, from The Munsters, 1964! — She twirls slightly to show off her dress.

— And here I am, dressed as an RPG demon, while you went all gothic... — He laughs.

Lily furrows her brow.

— Kas, huh? Not every day you see someone dress up as him.

— Exactly.

She looks at him for a moment, then narrows her eyes.

— Eddie, your bow tie...

He follows her gaze, confused.

— Is it crooked?

Lily steps closer with careful steps.

— You tied it wrong. Wait a sec.

Eddie smiles, convinced.

— Look at you, trying to fix it just so you can breathe my air, huh?

She makes a face.

— Stop being silly.

Lily undoes the knot and fixes it properly. He watches her closely, enchanted by her concentration on the task.

— See? You even offered to fix me...

She rolls her eyes, but there’s a playful glint in them.

— What happened to the Eddie who spent some time with me?

His smile fades a little.

— I just want a chance to show you who I really am.

Lily studies his face for a moment, then smiles.

— You going to show me your layers today, Munson?

— I’ll show you the best of me.

She nods, and he raises an eyebrow.

— Oh, so you don’t want me to ditch the playful guy?

Lily laughs softly, looking away.

— Shall we sit down? It’s kind of cold...

— I saw a free table over there in the corner. Want to come with me?

He extends his hand, and she takes it. Eddie makes his way through the crowd, arriving at the table far from the dance floor. He pulls out a chair for her like a gentleman. When they’re both seated, he crosses his arms on the table and looks at her directly.

— Don’t let anything convince you to give up on us.

— What, rocker? — She winks, carefree.

He leans in a little closer.

— I don’t like dancing, but... I’d like to take you to the dance floor.

Lily raises an eyebrow.

— Just stand up and come with me.

— What song’s playing?

Eddie looks at the dance floor and makes a face.

— Some generic song...

Lily listens carefully and smiles.

— Oh, it’s REO Speedwagon!

— Really? — He blinks, surprised.

— Can't Fight This Feeling. — She stands up. — Alright, want to dance with me?

Eddie is speechless for a moment. Then, he smiles, taking her hand.

He leads her to the dance floor, trying to appear confident. As soon as he finds a free space, he turns to her, placing his hands on her waist.

— Hold me like you did when we kissed in the clearing? — Lily asks, getting closer.

Eddie swallows hard, his hands settling on her waist more firmly. His heart races. The closeness is overwhelming.

They move to the rhythm of the music, bodies pressed together.

— I don’t want to step on your foot. — He murmurs, uncertain.

Lily laughs, her eyes sparkling.

— You’re holding me. There’s no way.

He breathes deeply, taking in every detail of the moment.

— Can you focus on the music?

She hesitates.

— I don’t know if I can, Eddie.

He looks at her, serious.

— Relax. You’re safe with me. Just relax... and let me guide you.

Her eyes meet his. And for a moment, everything around them disappears.

---

Being so close, they feel each other’s warmth. Eddie places his hand on her waist and pulls her closer, while the other slides over the flushed face of the redhead. The slow music fills the air. He feels an uncontrollable urge to kiss her.

He moves even closer, their noses brushing, sharing the same breath.

Lily’s eyes waver, trying to focus on the steps, guided by his movements. Eddie keeps her close, feeling the heat of her skin against his. His fingers glide through her soft red hair. His gaze locks on her lips.

— Is everything okay? — he murmurs, his voice full of curiosity and a hint of concern.

— A little nervous. — She confesses, meeting his gaze with her amber eyes.

— No one is a dance master... Stay with me, follow my lead. — He whispers, but his eyes remain fixed on her lips.

Eddie holds Lily’s hand firmly, gently guiding her to the rhythm of the music. He watches every movement she makes, captivated by the grace she exudes, like an elf lost on Earth.

Lily, shy, looks away to the other graduates dancing around, trying to avoid his gaze.

— Hey, did I do something? — he asks, unsure, pulling her closer.

She gives a small smile, still not looking at him.

— No, you didn’t do anything. I’m just... hot and happy. — she murmurs, a bit emotional.

Eddie feels a familiar warmth growing inside him.

— Me too... and hot. — he says softly, near her ear.

The rocker can’t hold back. He moves closer, his lips grazing hers. Lily holds her breath.

— I... want to kiss you again. — he whispers, his lips slightly parted, absorbing the sensation of having her in his arms, fighting the overwhelming desire to lose himself in her.

The slow music sets the perfect scene. Eddie presses his forehead to hers, sliding his hands down her waist to her back, feeling the softness of the fabric against his fingers.

When the music ends, he pulls back slightly, a mischievous gleam in his eyes. In a quick movement, he lifts Lily off the floor, holding her firmly in a final dance pose.

— So? Impressed with the dungeon master? — he teases, flashing a satisfied smile at her surprised expression.

— Quite...

— That’s how you end a dance with style. Forget the old movies, come adventure with the master. — His seductive tone makes Lily laugh softly.

They leave the dance floor, Eddie keeping his hand on her waist. When they reach the table, he sits down and, without hesitation, pulls her onto his lap, adjusting her comfortably.

He slides his fingers along her arm, feeling the shivers he causes.

— Got a fetish for my arm, Munson? — Lily teases, laughing.

Eddie blushes, trying to explain himself.

— It’s not exactly a fetish... — he murmurs, a little embarrassed. — I... like touching you.

She swallows hard.

— You change moods fast, huh? You’re usually more talkative.

— You annoy me and make me laugh. — he replies, looking away.

— Maybe you just tired of you.

— Oh, why?

— My lame jokes... that must be it.

Lily sighs.

— No, I’m just tense. They are cool, I like their vibe!

— Dances are tiring... — Eddie agrees, watching her with affection. — But, be honest... are you nervous?

She hesitates before answering, her voice trembling.

— Well... you all handsome next to me doesn’t help.

Eddie blinks, surprised.

— Oh... am I handsome?

— No. You look like Godzilla!

He laughs and suddenly buries his face in her hair.

— Hm... I think I’m addicted to your scent.

— My hair? — Lily stammers, looking at the red and colored locks.

Eddie twirls a strand between his fingers, thoughtful.

— Yeah... it’s beautiful. Always thought it had a caramel tone.

---

— Like ice cream... Neapolitan? — She smiles.

Eddie slides his fingers through the shades of her hair, growing more addicted to touching her.

— I love Neapolitan ice cream. — He teases, pressing his lips together.

— That’s weird and cute. — Her voice comes out a little choked.

— You mean... I’m going to devour you? — His teasing hits Lily’s buttons.

— Hey, Eddie! — She changes her tone, surprising him.

He laughs, letting her hair fall freely in the air.

— What if I don’t stop, redhead? Don’t you like when I tease you until you turn red?

— You know how to push my buttons. This isn’t funny!

— In my head, we almost did what we shouldn’t. Not that I’m proud of it, but... — He lowers his voice. — Come here.

Eddie pulls her by the arm, making her stand. She ends up sitting on his lap.

— What are you doing? They’re going to see us... — Lily turns her face, watching the other graduates dancing.

Eddie, however, doesn’t care. His focus is on her.

— Let them see. — His eyes shine with a daring challenge. — Because you haven’t left my mind since last night.

— Think of me with pigtails and stop with those shameless thoughts! — She tries to hide a smile but fails miserably.

— Pigtails? Cruel... but I’ll try. — He closes his eyes, pretending to concentrate. But his mind keeps taking him back to the kiss they shared. He bites his lower lip, trying to push the memories away.

Lily notices and pulls away, crossing her arms.

— Alright. Shall we order cocktails without... alcohol?

— Okay, non-alcoholic cocktails. — Eddie repeats, trying to push away imagining her in his bed.

The waiter approaches with the menu. Eddie scans the options.

— Hmm, a virgin mojito.

He looks at her, waiting for her choice.

— What the hell kind of drink is that, Eddie? — She furrows her brow.

He laughs.

— A non-alcoholic version of a mojito, my angel. Green juice with little sugar, lime, mint, and soda.

— Interesting... But it has a terrible name.

He looks at the waiter.

— Two virgin mojitos, please.

Silence settles, despite the chatter at the other tables. Eddie decides to break it.

— So, what else does the nerd have to talk about?

Lily nudges him lightly.

— Wanna know more about Dungeons & Dragons?

— Not the time... But I’m still learning. I even made a homemade master’s shield.

Eddie’s eyes light up.

— Need someone to guide you? I’m your guy...

— My guy? — She raises an eyebrow, not hiding her interest but keeping a clear boundary.

— You just don’t know it yet. — He leans in closer. — I can be your gamer master, your backup...

— Let’s make one thing clear? If you want, I’m already in your hands... I might not be a genie, but I grant wishes, baby.

He takes her hand.

— Oh, really?

— Want a new awesome weapon, an incredible monster, an epic story? Just ask.

His fingers slide through her hair and then down her lips. Lily falls silent, lost in her thoughts.

— Hey, what about... a guy type?

She looks away.

— I like playful guys, not too serious. longhair... sassy smile....

Eddie’s smile fades. He thinks about her type, that maybe he was or wasn't your type... And then about Quinn. He takes a deep breath, pushing the insecurity aside.

— Thanks for inviting me to the dance, Eddie. You pull me out of my hell. No one else can handle me...

He squeezes her hand.

— I’m glad I banished some of your hell. After all, we’re friends, right?

The moment inside the van hits him hard. It was perfect. Unforgettable.

— But I think we’d better not go into details... You were so hot kissing in my van..

He leans in, whispering.

— Don’t say the rest! — Lily shakes her head, laughing.

---

— Don’t worry, I’ll store this moment in the Area 51 of my brain, where only I can access it.

— Area 51? — Lily laughs, giving his shoulder a light shove.

— Yep, a dark place... — Eddie makes a scary face.

— I thought we stored memories in the prefrontal cortex. — She crosses her arms, tilting her head as if analyzing him.

— Look at you, more of a nerd than me. Since when do you work at NASA? — He raises his eyebrows, waiting for her reaction.

— Are you crazy? — Lily widens her eyes, pretending to be scared.

— You wanna go to Area 51, huh? — Eddie leans in a little closer. — Together, we can keep all the secrets safe, and as a bonus, you get a VIP pass to my room again...

— Enough with the pick-up lines. — She rolls her eyes but smiles. — Hey, nerd, wanna have an intellectual duel?

— We have a problem. I’m a nerd too! Fine, let’s go. You start.

— What’s the capital of France?

Lily furrows her brow, thinking.

— Italy? No, wait... Paris! — She guesses, immediately pouting adorably after realizing her hesitation.

Eddie resists the urge to kiss her.

— What a mess, Lily! Do you always confuse capitals?

He clears his throat and throws out another challenge:

— Who was the first president of the United States?

Lily furrows her brow, scrunching her nose.

— Bush? Clinton? Oh, you’re messing with me, asking me that. I don’t remember!

— Clinton? — Eddie laughs. — Try again.

— Can you give me a hint?

— Uh... He was president during the Revolutionary War.

— Wow, great hint. Hm... George Washington?

— That’s it, girl! — He raises his arms in celebration.

Lily raises an eyebrow.

— Alright, know-it-all. And who was the first president of Brazil?

— Easy! It was Dom Pedro I, right? He proclaimed independence in 1822.

— Wrong, Munson! It was in 1894, and his name was Deodoro da Fonseca.

— Huh? — Eddie looks confused, but then he gets distracted by the sparkle in her eyes.

— One more. Who was the first emperor of Brazil?

Eddie scratches his beard, thinking.

— Dom Pedro I? No, wait... Dom Pedro II!

— Oh, no, decide!

— Fine, Dom Pedro II.

— Wrong again! It was Dom Pedro I.

— Damn...

Lily laughs at his frustration.

— Your turn, Munson. What’s the largest land animal in the world?

— The largest animal? You! — Lily retorts.

Eddie laughs loudly.

— Very funny. But no, try again.

— Hippopotamus?

— No, but you were close.

— It’s bigger than your head, so it counts! — Lily teases.

— Funny. Go on, try again.

— Elephant!

— Finally! One point for you. Now, an easy one: in which movie do they say "May the force be with you"?

— Star Wars!

— That’s right! You can do the Chewbacca scream now.

— You’re the Chewbacca here, Munson, with that hair!

— If I’m Chewbacca, you’re Princess Leia.

— Stop messing with my head with compliments! Now it’s my turn... Which movie did Mike Myers play a cat?

Eddie thinks.

— The Cat?!

— I give up. It’s a tie. But, thinking about it, you got more wrong than I did.

— We’ll settle this later.

He runs a hand through his hair, laughing, but his gaze shifts to Steve Harrington, who is crossing the hall. Eddie feels his fingers tense. He knew the danger the King of the Baskets represented. He’d always felt like he could never compete, but with Lily by his side, he felt invincible.

---

— Look, Harrington with his pompadour... He’s coming. — Eddie nods his head, the insecurity starting to take root.

— Who? Where? — Lily scans the room with her eyes.

— Don’t you see him? — He leans in, his warm breath brushing her ear as he indicates the direction.

The redhead finally spots him.

— Oh, now I see.

Eddie watches her expression, recalling Steve's warning about not losing Lily to him.

— What if I invited him to hang out with us? — The question sounds casual, but his eyes betray a flash of discomfort.

— Oh, you want to invite Steve? Fine, redhead. — He tries to sound nonchalant, battling against his insecurity.

— He looks so handsome... — Lily’s voice has a genuine tone, almost defensive.

Eddie furrows his brow.

— Hey, do you two have something going on? — His voice comes out rough, revealing a fraction of the vulnerability he’s trying to hide.

— No. He liked me before, but maybe now he’s not trying anything... — Lily hesitates, her eyes searching his.

Eddie takes a deep breath, his hands tightening slightly.

— I don’t know what happened between you two, but I’ve never seen anyone look at you like he does. I mean, he’s talking to that girl, but... — He lets the sentence hang, watching Lily pick up on his concern.

— But Steve isn’t my guy. You know that, right, Edd? — She touches his arm, her fingers tracing circles on the sleeve of his jacket.

He smiles, crooked but genuine.

— I just want you to know that you don’t have to hide anything from me. If he’s just a friend, that’s fine. I trust you.

— Don’t talk like I want to spend the dance with him. I have another guy, I’ve told you that.

— Although I want you, I can understand if I’m not your favorite... — As sincere as it was, a part of him ached when he said this. He squeezes Lily's hand.

— Steve is an ex-friend. If he talks to me today, I won’t be rude, but I won’t engage much either. — She murmurs, fixing her gaze on his.

— So there’s nothing between you two? — The question comes softly, laden with meaning.

Lily smiles.

— You could still be the guy I’d take to the altar.

Eddie laughs, surprised by the reversal.

— You’re terrible, Hansol. You’ve flipped the roles. — He messes with her hair.

— Maybe, you’re the only place where I feel at peace. — Lily sighs, touching his face.

— My pick-up lines may not be great, but I’m willing to steal your soul and your heart tonight. — Eddie holds her chin, his voice thick with jealousy.

— Are you jealous, Eddie Munson? — The question rekindles the fire within him.

— I’m not in love just because we kissed. I already knew you from other times, and I never forgot you for a second. I woke up thinking about talking to you, but because I couldn’t, I stayed away... — He slides his fingers down her cheek.

— Oh, don’t open your heart... What if I have a knife? A sword? — She teases, her eyes gleaming with provocation.

— It doesn’t matter. It’s worth the risk, if it’s to win the heart of my former crush. — His finger glides over Lily's flushed face.

— And if I break your heart, Eddie?

— Your fight against the dragons in your mind doesn’t have to be solitary. I’m here. I’ve always been. But I won’t force anything. — He murmurs, closer to her.

— After graduation, if you want to invite me to Corroded Coffin’s shows, I’ll accept.

— The queen of Howling at my show? You’d go to the small ones, like... at the Hideout?

— I wouldn’t be there when they were famous, but when it was still grassroots.

Eddie grins, excited.

— I swear to God, I’ll do anything if you go to one of my band’s shows. I’ll give you gifts.

— No need. I already have the Hellfire chain. Going to the Hideout, I don’t want a gift. The best gift would be seeing the band’s frontman.

He stares at her, surprised.

— Man, I want this dance to end. And tomorrow, I want to pick you up to go to the bar and watch me play and... spend the night with me.

— And what would we do? — The question makes Eddie’s body short-circuit.

— Huh? I never got to that part. — For the first time, he seems shy.

— Think about it until the end of the dance... What would you do if we went out? — Lily lightly touches his shoulder, sending chills down his spine.

Eddie swallows hard.

— You made my neurons explode. But can I ask you something?

— You’re the master of flirting, so go ahead.

He takes a deep breath.

— What did you feel yesterday when we were alone in my van?

Lily leans in, brushing her lips against his ear.

— Comfort... and the need to have you on top of me.

The answer hits him hard.

— You were patient. I didn’t think you’d be. And your kisses... they’re light.

Eddie feels a wave of longing for that moment.

— Hot description... — He says, nervous. — Knowing I can have your heart drives me crazy to kiss you.

— Kiss? — She teases, innocently.

He exhales, trying to control his breath.

— I just want to be the guy who would help you not to have a war with yourself. And the guy who would make you discover Mordor within my lips.

Lily stares at him, motionless. She sighs, a nearly involuntary moan escaping her lips.

— You want that with me? — Vulnerability and desire mix in her gaze as she touches his chest.

---

— With you, I’d go to Middle Earth, Lily. — He holds my face in his hands, his warm skin against mine.

I’m struck by his declaration.

— Damn, Eddie...

— But if it’s my arrogance... I’d settle for watching you from afar, accepting being just your friend. — He murmurs, smiling that smile that hides the pain of a repressed desire.

— You can’t make me fall in love so quickly... — I whisper, feeling my chest tighten.

— Can’t I? Why not?

— Because... you ate my heart.

— No, Lily. I took your heart to care for it. It’s fragile like you, it needs love... even if I’m lacking it. I’d search within myself until I found something to give you. — Eddie slides his fingers over my face, as if promising to protect the most precious part of me.

He breathes deeply before continuing:

— Beautiful Hansol, you made my life less hellish. You made me trust someone again... And I don’t regret it.

— Are you sure, Eddie? We just met at the end of the school year, and you’re acting like we’ve been childhood friends...

He laughs.

— So what? I think you’re a bard who casts arcane magic just by existing. There’s a difference between beauty and talent, you know? Why don’t you see that?

I look away.

— No one has ever said that about me. Why would you?

— I don’t know anything about feelings, but I know you erase my guilt. The dirt of my life. You resurrect me, Lily.

— But I’m the darkness incarnate...

— Then we can create an eclipse. I’m the sun, you’re the moon... And they make love.

The silence is heavy. My eyes widen when I realize the double meaning of what I just said.

— Oh my God... I’m sorry!

She laughs, and I wonder why fate made our paths cross in Howling.

— Changing the subject... Did you know you saw me earlier? — She looks at me, innocent.

— Saw you? When?

— I came from Ghostface. Didn’t you see? — She plays with her red strands, looking frustrated.

It dawns on me.

— The person I mocked with the guys... was you?!

I cover my mouth, feeling the guilt swallowing me.

— Yeah, Eddie. You mocked me.

I freeze.

The hooded girl from the bathroom. The one my friends ridiculed.

Lily.

Life has a strange way of putting things in their place, doesn’t it?

— Are you okay?

My mind is still short-circuiting when I ask:

— And you have to dress up?

— Shibari and other things... — She murmurs with a mischievous gleam in her eyes.

WHAT?!

— You asked about fetishes, didn’t you?

— No, Lily... — I choke, stunned. — Damn, what was that?

She laughs.

— Sorry, I thought we were already that comfortable. My God, Eddie... You’re not going to run to the mountains, are you?

The way she fears losing me makes my heart race.

— No. — I let out a laugh. — Quite the opposite... Now I want to talk more with you.

I see the freedom in her gaze. The trust. Like she knows she can be herself with me.

And then, a phrase invades my mind:

"And you make it seem like I can be myself without fear... And I, well, want to stay by your side."

I swallow the guilt that tightens my chest.

— Forgive me for mocking you. My friends are idiots.

She raises an eyebrow.

— I’m not going to forgive you. But you’re lucky I’m not a gypsy, or I’d cast a spell on you.

Her playful tone makes me relax... But still, a shiver runs down my spine.

Women could be complicated, but in my mind, it was like a seven-headed beast would form every time I tried to start a conversation without sounding cheesy or like an unbearable know-it-all.

But with Lily, it was different. Our connection felt like two crazy people trapped in the same asylum — and, somehow, that attracted me.

Where did the old Eddie go? The tough guy who ran from love like a villager fleeing a Jehovah’s Witness knocking at the door?

The truth is, we’re puppets of the choices we make and the sins we commit, always at the mercy of what comforts or suits us.

And in the end, heaven or hell, we’ll be thrown to one side when the Apocalypse comes.

But until then, let us not die. Let us intoxicate ourselves with lust and taste the flavor of this hellish drink on the tip of our tongues.

[lovinglettersacrosstheverse]

Special Delivery!

We've got a letter for Louise Worth @mysweetlouise! And there's even some pressed flowers! 💖💕

My Dear Lou.

How long will you make me wait? Dancing on the edge of my reach with the one you know I despise most? I know you enjoy games but hasn’t this gone on long enough?

A part of me feels this is my own fault. Some form of punishment for the state I left you in. I wish you knew how much it has tormented me over the years. Knowing what was only a second in the world was decades in the mirror with Damien and Celine, I can’t imagine how alone you must have been. How much time you spent alone, trapped. The centuries we will never know. You did not deserve that. Which is why I don't understand why you keep playing with Mark. It’s not the same Mark, fine, but they all have that same seed of narcissism inside them that lead to our fates.

We could make a home in this new reality, if you would only give me the chance. I haven't made one without you yet, not really. There’s a building where I meet with others, unusual like us. I have a room with a bed here, but I do not rest. If you were here, it would give the old bed purpose and I would keep you company. The affection of Damian and curiosity to know you of Celine live on in me, memories of you that are not mine haunt me. Your face is what I see most nights Louise, before everything went wrong, the college days, the games, the late walks across the college grounds. 

And the look in the mirror when you were left behind. I don’t know which one is worse.

Please! I have been tortured enough, join me and we will make sure Mark receives the same punishment as I or better yet, ensure he can’t hurt another soul when he next feels the need. While I drown in the past of our fury and pain, he lives on free of his sins. 

I’ve taken a breath and a moment of reflection. This isn't about him. This is about you and me. And you deserve better than you have ever gotten, Lou. I want to be the one to provide that for you, we can provide a better life and a better future for each other. You never truly got to be the D.A. in our past life, but you can be anything in our future. Not just playing a role, a meaningless game where nothing matters as you do now. We can make something with substance that actually counts for something. But I can’t do it without you.

Maybe I sound like a fool. We haven’t gotten the chance to re-familiarize ourselves with each other in some time, despite how long we’ve had. You’re a different person by now as well, I imagine. I wonder how many habits you still have from the past. What new ones I could learn about you. 

When you tire of your current circumstances, remember that my door is always open and a new home of our own making ready to be built. 

Sincerely,

Your Ever Waiting Darkiplier

Well, there is one more thing....

I also found a torn paper in the mailbox today, it looks like a journal page? I'm not sure this is supposed to be here... but I think its for a Louise Worth as well so maybe i am supposed to deliver it!

It’s late now. I’m in my office, reading the most recent report from the Jim’s when the radio changed. It started playing this slow jazz and these memories came to my mind, unbidden. Damien's memories of you, late nights listening to jazz as you both studied for exams. A record you’d put on the phonograph that became his go to for focusing on work in the years after. The years apart as you all worked for your separate goals, when Damien would spend these nights wishing for your company once again. Lou.

You're not even here. I write only for myself, a page i will tear and burn when I have the chance. But still, writing to you makes it easier somehow. Calms me in these moments.

This body always aches, and I can imagine at one point the heart would ache for you. If I told you it still did, you would know better than to believe me, wouldn’t you? I saw it in your eyes the last time we met, your silent regard for me. You're getting wiser to the situation. I can’t fool you into thinking the Damien you knew is still in here anymore, can I? Nor can I convince you that being as I am, I can feel anything other than rage and resentment. Perhaps the resentment I feel towards Mark for making that promised future of you and Damian working together side by side once again is a form of love itself?

But it’s not even by his remnants you stand by now is it?

Do you have any idea what it’s like to be in a body constantly in a state of decay? I feel the pull of death over me constantly, trying to drag me away like a fist around my throat, never tightening more than it is but never loosening either. And yet you’re out there in your own new skin, where did it come from?

(Note from here to the * was originally all scribbled out but i managed to make it readable... though maybe I should have left it)

Do you want me to apologize for leaving you there? None of this would have happened if it wasn’t for him, I am trying to get revenge for us all!

And now you go and have your little adventures with that monster! In practically every reality, you two are connected in some way, you really think any Mark in any other universe is any different than the one who did this to us? This is why you couldn’t stay! You’re too soft, you weren’t angry enough at the right people. You are the exact fool Celine pegged you for that night, all those years ago. 

How did you get a new body? How, how, who did you take it from, where did you get it, why do YOU have one?*

I apologize. You know how this unstable amalgamation of my being can be. I'm getting better at controlling it over the years, but I still have my moments. Can you not lend a hand to an old friend?  Or perhaps those old tales you told Damien once were true, and this is my repentance for breaking a mirror?

No, perhaps you're right. And there is more to atone for on my end. You should not have been pushed out. I was blinded by the mission of my birth. Clearly I underestimated your strength and resolve, if the way you stand against me and the endurance of your soul is anything to go by.

We are still old friends, aren’t we? You were there when I was created, the first face I saw and even behind whatever cloaks me now, still the face I see in every mirror and reflection. What some might say should be guilt or softness I should feel at that is as all things, replaced with the rage of knowing why I carry you with me in such a literal way…

I wish to confide in you one thing Louise, that I barely confide in myself. There’s one other feeling I'm capable of that sits so deep within me it’s but a grain of sand in the void fractures that make up my sewn together soul. Fear. I am the living testament to their hatred and thirst for revenge. If, when I see their retribution through, then what? What will become of me? Will I have any purpose? Will I continue to exist at all? What will be left when there is no one left to despise? You are the only one I can think of to ask. How did you survive the void of the mirror for so long that you escaped? What feeling motivated you? What purpose?

I shouldn’t keep bringing up old wounds, but what else can I do as a living scab of a soul myself? It is only this mission that keeps this broken body together.

If you just let me in, I can fix all of this. Just let your old friend in Lou.

[khruschevshoe]

Black Pete and Jim Jimenez

I see you tugging on your shirt

Trying to hide inside of it

And hide how much it hurts

Let 'em laugh while they can

Let 'em spin, let 'em scatter in the wind

I have been to the movies, I've seen how it ends

And the joke's on them

-Brandi Carlile, The Joke

Pete shrugs. "Doesn't matter to me. I'm not friends with you because you're the chatty type."

Jim adjusts their hat with a smile. They remember Pete catching their hat at the wedding like it had been a bouquet thrown by a bride on land, the way that Jim had hoped that it meant that soon enough, Pete would get to have the same glorious moment that they had. That Jim had hoped that Pete would get to feel loved and cherished and held tight by those that loved him most. 

Pete has had a special little place in their heart for awhile now. Sure, they have friends now, consider every crew member a part of the family they never got to have as a child, but Pete's different. Yes, Olu was their first friend ever, but their relationship evolved into something different, something that involved wanting to be touched and adored and worshipped.

Jim never wanted to kiss Pete. They never wanted him to be anything more than just a friend.

But they care about him deeply. As much as they love Olu and Archie, cherish and adore them with everything they have, they will always have an understanding with Pete that they don't have with anyone else. A connection to the power of creation, of change, of being so determined to make your body fit your soul that you remake yourself, until your clothes and body and life and name are right.

Pete is something good. Something precious. Just because they are not married to him, do not want him in that way, doesn't mean that they don't love him.

-aletterinthenameofsanity, love the one you hold (watch me as I tumble homeward)

Guys. GUYS. The galaxy-brained relationship between trans Black Pete and Jim is the best thing I've ever read, especially after the recent update regarding Jim's top surgery. This friendship has been living in my brain rent-free for WEEKS now and it will stay there for a very long time. I adore their dynamic so much!

@polikate @yuenity @possumsmushroom @angxlwiings @bricksbloggyplace

[clementine-side-blog]

Love Not Shared - E.N

Summary: (this takes place when Ed works for Oswald when he runs for mayor) You (Jim Gordon's sister) fell in love with Edward Nygma ever since you first saw him. As he grew more sinister, you still couldn't shake your love for him away. You visit Penguins manor a lot. Your excuse is 'it's a check up to make sure everything is running smoothly'.

Content warning: Explicit language and angst.

READ BELOW CUT

"Y/n...?"

"Hm?"

"Were you even listening to me?" Gordon asked.

"What? Oh, um yeah."

"Then what did I say?"

Fuck.

"I don't know.."

"Please, y/n, don't go back to him. It's not going to do you any good. He's a bad man. Maybe he wasn't before, but he is now. You shouldn't be around people like that."

Y/n glared, shooting up from her spot on the couch.

"What? Like you don't surround yourself with people like that? Remind me, how many deals have you made with the criminals in this city?" She snapped.

Jim stayed silent.

"Right. That's what I thought."

It remained quiet for a while, the two siblings unsure of how to continue the conversation. Or, if the conversation even needed to continue. These arguments had been happening very frequently.

"You can't stop me. No one can. And that is that. Besides, Penguin likes me. He won't let anything bad happen to me." She rubbed her temples, sighing.

Jim huffed, running a hand through his now messy hair. His eyes looked heavy and tired, circles now forming under them. Tired. So very tired.

"I just don't want-"

"But, what about what I want? What about me?! I don't give a shit what you want. It's always been about you. Why can't you just support me?!"

"I'm sorry..."

"Yeah, I bet you are."

Y/n stormed out of the apartment, grabbing her purse and jacket on the way out. The force of which she slammed the door caused the picture frames on the wall to shake. She was torn between two people. Her heart hurt and so did her brain. Fuming, she tried to calm herself down as she pulled out her phone.

"Oswald? Yes, hi it's me. Listen, is it ok if I drop by? I thought I would come and check up on things. See how everyone is doing. Maybe we can have tea? Great! I'll see you soon!"

As she hung up she called a taxi, waving it down like a crazy woman. Once it pulled over she got inside. The taxi driver was a woman, not much older than her. Her hair was a deep burgundy and her eyes a deep brown. She was very pretty.

"Hi ma'am, um, the mayor's house please."

The woman raised an eyebrow but complied. The car started and the rumbling of the engine shook the car. All the windows were fogged up due to the steam outside and the cold weather. Sighing, y/n rubbed her eyes so hard she started seeing those fuzzy little colors.

"Hey, I know it's none of my business..." The woman began.

"But, whatever you're struggling with, I hope everything ends up ok. You seem tense."

Y/n smiled.

"Thank you ma'am. That's very nice of you. I hope the same thing as well."

The rest of the car ride was silent. A comfortable silence. The whole way there y/n continuously checked herself in her portable handheld mirror. She had never been so worried about her appearance before in her life. It's not like she was going to a special event or anything, nothing like that. But, she was going to see him.

No matter how many times she saw him, she always felt anxious.

Every time.

Every time she saw his stupid fucking face.

"We're here." The taxi driver announced.

Y/n swallowed a huge lump in her throat, handing the driver a $20 bill and a $5 as a tip for being caring.

"Thanks."

She got out of the car, grabbing her belongings as well. Her throat was dry as she walked up towards the front door. Her heart was racing frantically and her palms were getting sweaty. Slowly, she raised her hand to knock on the door. With a few swift knocks, she heard footsteps from inside the mansion. The door clicked and swung open to reveal someone very familiar.

"My, my, my. What are you doing here?" Victor asked.

"Let me in Victor. Oswald said I could come over." She scoffed.

"Hm."

Without saying anything else he stepped aside and allowed her to walk in. Abruptly he slammed the door closed, causing her to jump. He snickered to himself before leading her towards where Oswald was. Y/n just rolled her eyes and followed him.

"Oswald always appreciates your visits. He loves girl time...though he never invites me." Victor said, mumbling the last part.

Y/n giggled to herself as they entered the living room with a large fancy fireplace. Sitting in an armchair diagonal from the fireplace was Oswald holding a newspaper. Victor cleared his throat.

"Sir, your...friend...is here." He grumbled.

Oswald set the paper down and smiled wide. He clasped his hands together and stood up. Grabbing his cane for stability he hobbled over to her, embracing her in a hug. She hugged him back as well.

"Y/n, dear, it's always a pleasure to see you. Please, make yourself at home." He motioned for Victor to leave, politely.

As Victor left, the two of them sat down by the fireplace. The warmth of the fire was very comforting. The orange and yellows hues reflected on the furniture and illuminated their faces.

"Tea?" He asked politely.

Y/n nodded.

"Don't worry, I got it handled Oswald." She reassured him not to get up.

"Thank you."

As she began to make tea, she kept thinking about ways to bring up Edward. It would be awkward if she just asked 'Hey where is Edward by the way?'. She had to figure out how to bring it up naturally.

"Dear friend, what have you got on your mind? You're quiet. You're never quiet." He asked.

Y/n sighed as she put the kettle on the stove. She rubbed her face, scratching her neck.

"Was it really that easy to tell?" She chuckled softly.

Oswald got up from his seat, walking over to the kitchen island. He leaned against the countertop for balance. The setting sun shone through the windows and caused his face to light up with dancing flames, his blue eyes squinting from the light.

"Yes. It was." He replied.

Neither of them said a word. Y/n wasn't sure how to respond to him. She sighed, trying to gather her words. Oswald stood there, awaiting what she wanted to say. Reaching out he placed his hand on top of hers.

"Jim. He's been hassling me. Just sibling stuff. That's all really."

Oswald's eyes narrowed. He knew that there was more to what she was dealing with than what she was saying, but he didn't want to pry. He wanted to respect her boundaries and privacy. He always would.

After a few more moments of silence there was footsteps coming down the stairs. The clicking of the persons shoes against the wood floor echoed throughout the halls. Turning his head Oswald looked towards the entrance to the living room.

"Edward, there you are. We're making tea. Care for some?" He asked.

Edward frowned.

"We? What do you mea-"

He stopped himself from finishing the sentence as he saw the girl who stood behind Oswald. A face he would see every now and then but, tried to avoid. He cleared his throat and straightened out his tie.

"Very well."

Oswald looked towards y/n, looking into her eyes. They were heavy and full of sadness. He could tell. Looking back towards Edward, he finally put 2 and 2 together. Placing a hand on y/n's shoulder he whispered in her ear.

'Talk to him.'

Without waiting for her to reply, he announced to everyone.

"I just remembered that I have some papers I need to go over upstairs in my office. If I don't do it now then I'll forget all about it later. Please, excuse me."

And with that, he left the two of them alone in the room. The silence was deafening. Aching. Painful.

Y/n cleared her throat.

"So, Ed-"

"Why are you here?" He snapped.

She flinched at his harshness.

"I um, I came to check up on things and make sure everything is running smoothly." She told him.

He shook his head and chuckled. Grabbing his hat, he tossed it on the couch to the left of him. Using his pointer finger and thumb he pinched the bridge of his nose, letting out a frustrated sigh.

"Sure."

Y/n glared at him.

"The hell is that supposed to mean?"

Edward rolled his eyes.

"Things must suck around here because this is your 8th time coming by this week. This week." He retorted.

She clenched her fists.

"Maybe you should do a better job then." She commented.

Nygma raised an eyebrow. Taking off his coat he hung it up on the coat rack. He closed his eyes tightly before opening them back up.

"I'm so fucking tired of beating around the bush, y/n. Ever since I got sent to Arkham you've been acting so damn strange. I don't know what your problem is, but it's getting on my nerves. You come over here like it's your own house, like you own it."

Her knuckles were white and her nostrils were flared. She marched over towards him, staring right up into his eyes. He straightened his posture slightly.

"What's my problem? What's my fucking problem? You're my fucking problem Edward Nygma!" She cried out.

His brows furrowed.

"What the hell are you talking about? If you have a problem with me then that's you're own problem. Figure that shit out yourself. You're a grown ass woman." He spit.

Turning on his heels, he went to grab his hat and coat and leave the room. His hair was rustled and sleeves rolled up. Y/n reached behind her and grabbed a wooden spoon, hurling it at the back of his head.

"Ow! What the fuc-"

"Do you think I wanted this? Do you really think I wanted to fall in love with someone like you?" She sobbed.

Edward turned around, seeing her sunk to her knees. Her head hung in her hands, her body convulsing from sobbing. He felt a twinge in his heart.

"Someone like me?" He grimaced.

"Yes. A psychotic, mentally ill, insane, murderous, sadistic mind fucker. You fucking prick. I-I sh-should hate you but, I c-can't. I l-love you so much and it hurts. It hurts so bad Edward."

Edward stared at her. Her hair hung in her face, some pieces sticking to her face from the tears. She continued to sob softly, only for it to increase when the kettle started to whistle. Unsteadily, she stood up slowly and walked over to the kettle. Taking it off the stove she puts the kettle on the counter.

"Edward, I have loved you since the first day I saw you. And, despite everything you've done since then, I still find myself utterly in love with you. And, I don't know why." She mumbles.

"I do not know either."

Y/n sighed.

"You need to move past this love for me, y/n. You should not associate yourself with someone like me. It's dangerous. I didn't want you to fall in love with me either."

A single tear rolls down her cheek.

"So, is that how you feel?" She asks.

He nods curtly.

Reaching into one of the cabinets, y/n pulls out a mug. Carefully, she pours some hot water into the mug and places a teabag in it. Walking over to Edward, she hands him the mug, which he takes.

"I'll always love you, Edward Nygma. Now and forever. I'll cherish our early memories because, I have a feeling you and I won't be making any more memories together."

Standing tall, she places a gentle kiss on his lips. Looking into his eyes, she backs away slowly. His eyes look heavy and burdened, matching hers. Two burdened souls.

"Good bye."

That was the last time they saw eachother.