#ERHIT AU

[project-rosewood-476]

At long last. Two years of waiting. It's finally here.

Hero/Villain duet ft. Tabby x Horatio. This was their so-called break up in 7th grade towards the end of their time working together.

Tabby and Horatio belong to me. Art, wording and animation was done by @wastelandcatartist and you should go check them out!

[the-ship-maker-2]

So far, tabby gives me the vibes of someone who would explain how in mythology, Chiron was the first doctor and with him being half horse, it makes him the Centaur For Disease Control

And then giggle about it while on a mission...

yes, you are right and you should say it. She discusses greek mythology with Toby. They have done that a total of 3 times for the missions and each time Masky and Hoodie are looking at them like:👁️👄👁️

Toby listens to her very intently like its vital information

[project-rosewood-476]

^^The song this animatic is based on.

Featuring our beloved Adam and Jeff the Killer.

Story: A potential scene for book 2 of ERHIT. Adam goes over to Jeff's house to train and clean up. He finds him going on a bender, and he's trying to help. But some people are stubborn and don't want to be saved. Art was done by @xxxamerican-psychoxxx editing was done by me.

[project-rosewood-476]

🐈‍⬛️ The Stray God Who Can't Seem To Die

"Hated by many loved by some"

-She had the weight of the world in her hands at such a young age. Fight runs in her like it's embedded into her DNA. The moment her step dad came back into the picture being made into a weapon to fight a battle that was not her own but someone else's grandiose delusions. Fighting a war that was bigger than her own at the place she called home. Daddys blunt little instrument. It seems that it's all she knows how to do and doesn't know if she can stop.

-Speaking of which she is the spitting image of her mother. Her long dark hair that holds many memories. Her wide knowing hazel eyes that hold many secrets. She has her mother's heart and compassion but the spitting personality of her step-dad. His hatred and rage that courses through her like righteous holy fire. His sharp tongue and wit. She's violent and volatile. Cold and calculating and everything in between. Whether she likes it or not she is her father's daughter and owes a great debt to the man who raised her when her own family didn't.

-Many people would describe Tabby as a feral stray alley cat with her behavior and mannerisms. She's kinda mangey looking and will manipulate to get what she wants, whether it's her next meal, a warm place to sleep or just to barely get out of whatever fucked situation she put herself in. Feral. Has and will dig through the trash for food and get into fights to defend and protect what very little she has.

-Despite being described as cat-like, her fighting style is more of a pit bull with lock jaw. She was taught to go for the throat and attack where it hurts the most. Be it bringing people down to their knees as she's ripping into their deepest insecurities or forcing them into submission with her strength. She has an iron bite and won't let go until they give up or can't get up. She will be the last one standing with flesh in her teeth and blood dripping. This girl has fought her way to the top and just to exist tooth and nail. She'll go out fighting as well.

-Tabby has a very loose guide for morals. She's not completely gone but is very quick to disregard them if that means that she and the people she cares about survive another day. She has done some heinous shit for the bare bones of survival on a Monday. She claims that she's a good person at heart and is not like the other kids there. She's not her step-dad yet the line blurs more every year she's alive. Tabby has so much blood on her hands she'll scrub them and herself raw just to be rid of her past. Of course it never works. But then again not many people can say that they've committed a genocide of their own kind.

-Tabby would be the definition of a kamikaze. She'll take on any and every mission and fight that seems impossible and would ensure her death. Yet every time, she is always the last one standing either beaten, battered, bloody, and bruised or as bodies drop around her. She can't seem to die. She knows she should have died many years ago, and she knows it. Its only a matter of time before Rosewood or her past or somebody else claims her. It is rumored that Rosewood kids are notoriously hard to kill. Yet she can't help but wonder if she unknowingly sold her soul for a chance at immortality the moment she stepped foot on that dreaded property.

-after all hope was lost and her world was falling apart around her she made a deal with someone who could give her the power of a God. And she took that chance every opportunity she got. A hopeless egomaniac with a hero/God complex who had the power of life or death in her hands at such a young age is a recipe for disaster. Yet she thrived in it. A couple of darker and deadlier nick names "karma" and "Judgement" sprung about from that. After it being the only hope she got and everyone else encouraging her she saw no reason to stop at the time. She's ended lives and ended worlds.

-She has a soft spot for cats. She adores them, and she even has a feral orange tabby named "Mac," which is short for Mac and cheese. She treats it like it's one word. Sometimes, after school, she'll feed it scraps and treats and give him pets and scritches. Has attempted to follow her home more than once.

- also has a soft spot for young children. Because she was them at one point in time. She raised her little brother all his life since she was 9. He is her pride and joy and her only living proof that she's not a monster.

-she fears to become anything like her step-dad. She fears becoming an adult despite being 20 now. She views it as becoming an abusive power-hungry shit person since that's what she associates adulthood with. That's all she grew up with and hasn't been shown otherwise. Definitely has Peter Pan Syndrome.

-suffers from all of the guilt she has of her past constantly. She'll claim that she doesn't regret anything or the choices that she made. She'll stick by what she said and did and will go down crashing and burning. You know what they say a good captain always goes down with their ship.

-cannot and will not stay in one place for too long. She was locked up constantly in the walls of her prison that she once lived in. No way is anything or anyone who will force her to settle down. Not even the operator. She claims it's for the freedom that she never received growing up. She'll stay for a few months at a time ( the longest she'd ever stayed in one place was 6 months). Enough to get a cheap motel and a shit job as a waitress or linecook in whatever restaurant was nearby and get money for her next run. Long enough to completely ghost or destroy the relationships she tried to make. She seems to have the delusion of outrunning from herself and her past, yet wherever she goes there, she is

-she also can not do stability for very long. So good fucking luck to the poor bastard/bitch who somehow managed to trap the feral stray. She will destroy you from the inside out and everything around her and in her path. She can't have anything good for very long. She doesn’t want to get too comfortable and let her guard down for the next person or thing to blindside her. She has a thirst and need for chaos and destruction, and if life won't provide that for her, she'll do it herself regardless of the people around her.

-Tabby can cook! She's been cooking since she was 9 due to being forced to raise her little brother and cook and clean a house for a household of 5. Does not understand portion control for the life of her. However, if you somehow managed to find where she's at and show up on her doorstep, she'll never turn you away and at the very least cook you a meal. They're all pasta and meat based, so you don't get much variety, but you get a warm and hearty meal before you go your own way. Food brings people together, and she believes that it can't fix everything, but it can start making things a little better. She also believes that if you can't talk out your problems over food, then they can't be fixed. It's the one thing she's good at that doesn't involve destroying everything she touches or is around.

-She's so very tired. Has ran out of fucks to give and so emotionally and mentally burnt out. Very quick to anger and irritate. She sees it as all of the people she held, such compassion and empathy for are no longer around and she can never see again she no longer has a reason to play nice anymore. She does enough to keep a job for however long she needs it. That's it.

-She really does have a heart of gold somewhere in there, but her damaged soul and tormented mind have taken over and pretty soon if it hasn't already. That's all she'll ever be.

[project-rosewood-476]

Chapter 10/ Lyra

Adam's missing his sister more than ever but what happens when he unknowingly saved a ghost girl who may be closer to him than he thought. What kind of bond will form between the unlikely pair?

Adam mullany, Tabby Anderson, Michael mullany and maplehood creek all belong to me

some iterations of the creeps and the pocket belong to @creepypasta-shtick and you should go check them out!

Adam stood by his bedroom window, resting his head on his arms and watching the other kids play in the cold weather. He wished he could play with the other kids, but his father would say no, saying that they’re bad people and that he shouldn’t want to associate with them.

But those are the people he goes to school with. He knows those people. How can they be bad people?

He wishes that his sister was here to explain things to him. To spend time with him, to love him.

He wishes he wasn’t so goddamn alone all the time.

Adam sighed before noticing the room getting colder and the hairs sticking up from the back of his neck. He slowly turned around and gasped as he saw the horrifying sight before him with his wide eyes.

It was the girl’s grave he cleared in the cemetery not long ago.

“Wha- what are you doing here? You’re not supposed to be here! Who are you?” stammered the little boy, startled by the ghost’s appearance. His wide eyes widened impossibly more. The Ghost’s appearance was unsettling. Half of her jaw was unhinged and bloody, and her body was covered in loose, bloody bandages. That seemed to be the only thing holding her body together, save for the scraps of fabric that were once clothes. Some limbs were crooked and out of place, all signs of an accident. 

He’d forgotten that spirits usually keep their appearance their last few moments before death. It took forever for the two to stare at each other before the ghost girl snapped and contorted into a less intimidating form of herself.    

“Lyra…You…?” she croaked out

“Adam,” the boy finally said. “What are you doing here? Are you lost?” he asked, tilting his head to the side as he took several steps toward the apparition.

“Help…” croaked out Lyra.

“Help?”

“You.”

“Help me? Why would I need help?” Adam furrowed his eyebrow in confusion.

“Lost…Sister…” Lyra tilted her head to mimic Adam. Almost as if she's struggling to remember what she was going to say.

“Lost? Sister? Are you a lost sister? Is Tabby lost? Am I lost? W-what do you mean?” 

Lyra flowed to him at the speed of light. Adam barely blinked before he could register her movements. She put a crooked and mangled hand to his heart. He gasped and took a step back at how cold the touch was and the suddenness of it.

“Hurt”. The girl looked at him with a mix of sorrow and pity.

“I-” started Adam before gulping, “I guess I am..” he looked away.

“You…Toby..” Lyra pointed at him.

“No, I’m Adam,” he said, confused as he pointed at himself.

She shook her head.

“No. Toby.”

“Who.. was this Toby?” he began to prod gently. Any information to help her out.

“Brother…You..” Lyra was trying to explain but was frustrated at being unable to speak fluently.

“Was Toby your brother?”

Lyra looked down for a long time before answering.

“Yes.”

“I see,” said Adam as he rubbed the back of his neck, not knowing what to say or do next. What was he supposed to do with this information? Was he supposed to find this Toby? Give them closure? Was he just supposed to pass on a message to them?

“I’m sorry…” he said after a while to break the silence.

“Help.”

“Help.”

“Help!”

The ghost girl came towards him with each help, being more desperate than the last, until she got right in his face at the frightened boy. 

“HELP!”

“HELP WITH WHAT?!” Adam shouted back.

There was a knock on his bedroom door before it swung wide open, startling the little boy, turning to see who the intruder was.

“Who were you talking to in there?” demanded his father as he towered over the boy in the doorframe. 

“I was just-” Adam pointed to where Lyra was, only to discover she wasn’t there anymore.

“N-no one,” he muttered, confused,

“Then stop wasting time and clean the house!” Michael demanded

“But I don’t know how. I never-” he was cut off.

“Then figure it out! Or there will be trouble up ahead, do you understand? I didn’t raise a stupid kid, unlike your sister! God, where is she when I need her?!” he snapped, agitated.

“Yes,” Adam bowed his head in submission. Tabby always told him to do as he was told and stay out of the way. Straight path straight A Adam never go astray Adam.

It was nauseating, but it was a way of survival. Tabby made sure of it. But now that she wasn’t here anymore, he’d have to survive alone.

“Good,” his father answered before returning to his solidarity in his room.

Adam flinched when the door slammed shut. He’d better get to work before trouble finds him. He looked to where Lyra was, but she still didn’t show up. He shook his head before leaving the safety of his room to go clean.

[project-rosewood-476]

Perhaps in Another Life in a Different Time

For a brief moment in time everything is perfect in Tabby's life. Her step dad is out of the picture, Shes still graduating Rosewood, Horatio is no longer a threat and she has all of her friends back. Something isn't right here...

all characters belong to me so does maplehood creek and Rosewood prep

Tabby stirred awake with a yawn and stretched. She slowly sat up and blinked to take in her surroundings.

This wasn’t her room, oh no.

She was back in her childhood room. Her dresser had a mirror on top of it, including her many dolls, writing utensils, and papers across from her bed that was tucked neatly in a corner with a mound of her childhood plushies. Her coffee table held all of her books on top of it. 

What was she doing back here? Why was she here? What happened? Where are the others?

Tabby didn’t know what to feel. Confusion, dread, hope, excitement. She let out a whimper and grabbed her favorite plushy. A stuffed animal leopard named Simba before swinging her legs over and having her feet hit the sun-warmed hardwood floor. She shakily turned her doorknob, bracing herself for the scene before her as the door swung open.

It was peaceful.

The sound of the news was playing on the TV. Strangely, the house was less cluttered without her stepdad’s stuff constantly there. She’d forgotten how big their apartment was in all actuality. She looked past the living room area into their dining room and kitchen. Adam was sitting patiently coloring in his Spiderman coloring book, and her mom was making her usual Sunday breakfast shebang.   

Still no sign of her stepdad.

Where is he?

It wasn’t long before her rumbling stomach gave her away, and her mom looked over at her daughter.

“There you are, honey! You’re finally awake now! Why don’t you come help me cook breakfast, hm?” she gestured with the tilt of her head to the bread that needed to be toasted.

“Mom!” Tabby cried out as she ran over to give her mother the tightest hug she had given in a long while. Afraid she'd never see her again if she were to let go.

“Jesus, Tabby, what’s gotten into you?” her mother said, shocked at the sudden embrace of her teenage daughter.

“I’ve just missed you so much... You have no idea..” murmured the more petite girl as she held onto her for dear life, inhaling the scent of her clothes and hair. 

“Missed me? Tabby, you saw me last night before you went to bed. And before that, we went shopping and eating together,” she laughed light-heartedly.

“We did?”

Her mother gave her a confused look.

“Oh, I mean, yeah, we did. I remember,” Tabby bluffed horribly.

Her mother nodded before turning back to the stove to flip the sausages.

“Where’s Michael? Either of them?” 

The older woman hesitated before answering for a moment.

“He won’t be coming back. I’ve promised this to you before, and why are you asking such a silly question? You know his eldest son doesn’t live with us.”

Tabby stood there dumbfounded. She was relieved but also angry. Why did it take this long to kick him out? Why hadn't she done that sooner? And what happened? What was the last straw to kick him out? It wasn’t fair that she had suffered for ten years only to be able to enjoy the tail end of her childhood after missing out on so much. 

Still, she looked at her mom, who looked more lively and happier than she’d ever been in all the years she had known her, and then back at Adam, who was happily coloring away, brimming with personality and fully happy and relaxed. She supposed that it was better late than never.

“Are you going to help me cook or what?” asked her mother, tearing Tabby away from her thoughts.

“How can I with my hand-” she cut herself off as she held out both hands and let out an audible gasp as she examined her left hand. It wasn’t broken anymore. She could move it and feel everything again; she had complete control of her hand. 

That means that the Rosewood Massacre never happened.

That meant all of her friends were still alive.

The older woman looked at her daughter with a weird look.

“N-nevermind, I’ll start toasting,” Tabby said quietly as she went to work.

—----------------------------------------------------------------------------

Tabby took her sweet time helping to cook breakfast and sitting down to eat with her family. If this was all too good to be true, then she wasn’t going to miss any of this, and she was going to take full advantage of this. Besides, she didn’t know if she would ever see her mother and baby brother again. Hell, she didn’t know if she could get food like this again!

“This was what a family is supposed to be,” said Tabby in thought as she listened to Adam complain about the 3rd grade, how they’re doing multiplication already, and how the minute timed hundred questions worksheet gave him so much anxiety. Tabby chuckled as she remembered that all too well. Adam never stopped talking, even in between bites of cereal and pancakes. He was always the chatterbox in the family, and she was amazed at how he never choked on anything. The children’s mother ate daintily as she sipped her coffee, watching the news.

“So, do you have any plans today? I was thinking we could get together with the rest of the family and go to the lake since it’s beginning to warm up now, and lake pass season started last weekend!” Tabby’s mom turned to her excitedly with that glint in her eye, watching her daughter scarf down her second plate of everything.

“Um..” she trailed off, wiping her mouth on her sleeve and scrunched down. The lake! She’d forgotten about the lake. It was one of her favorite places to go in the summer. It felt like it’d been years since she returned there. She itched at the opportunity to take it as she didn’t know if she would have this chance again.

“I was thinking of going to see my friends…You know, to hang out and check up on them if that's okay..” she asked meekly. She felt terrible for rejecting her mom, but she had to know if they were still there, okay, and what they were up to.

“Well, why don’t you invite them to join us and make it a family and friends outing?” she offered.

Tabby’s ears perked up.

“Really? You mean it? All 14 of them? But what if they can’t come?”

“Then invite as many as possible.”

“O-okay, I’ll do that…” Tabby said excitedly between mouthfuls of food and scarfing the rest down before jumping out of the seat and trying to do everything simultaneously.

“Jesus, Tabby, slow down!”

“I can’t, Mom. I have to hurry! I’ll be back in a bit! I love you!” Tabby said in a rushed voice as she put her plate in the sink, grabbed her plaid jacket, and gave her mom another tight hug and kiss. She hugged Adam tightly and ruffled his hair before heading out the door.

------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Tabby walked slightly taller with confidence and pep in her steps. The town was exactly how she remembered it, yet it was more colorful. 

She knew exactly where she was stopping first.

She stopped by the familiar barn red, worn-down house just a few blocks before Rosewood. Tabby knocked briskly before stepping back and praying she would be there.

The door creaked open, and a pale, lanky girl with a ginger pixie cut poked her head out the door to see who it was before opening it fully.

“Autumn!” Tabby said as she ran to her, practically tackling her into a hug.

“Tabby? What are you doing here?” asked Autumn, who was equally confused but always welcomed the shorter girl into her home. She’d never been the one to turn down Tabby’s affections.

“I’d thought I’d never see you again! Or find you here! I missed you so much!” she said, almost bursting into tears and holding onto her for dear life, afraid to let go.

“What are you talking about? You saw me and the rest on Friday, remember? What do you mean you wouldn’t find me here? You’re acting like you returned from a war and had no idea where we were!” Autumn said as she tried to pry Tabby off of her.

“Oh, you have no idea,” said Tabby, sitting crisscross and looking up at the ginger girl.

“So what are you doing here so early in the morning?” inquisitive Autumn said, getting her siblings nice and comfy and turning on the TV for them.

“I was wondering if you had plans today. My mom wants to take us all to the lake today! I still have to see if the rest can come, but I hope you will go,” she answered as she made herself at home with a cup of coffee and set one up for Autumn.

“I can’t”

“What?”

“I said I can’t,” Autumn went about her morning routine.

“What do you mean you can’t? If it’s about Riah and Mere, we can take them along, too! My mom said she was okay with it, and I’m sure your mom will be too!”

“It’s not that. I just don’t belong.”

“Nonsense, you’re like my big sister to me. You’re already family whether you like it or not. Now stop making excuses!”

“No, I mean I don’t belong here,” said Autumn, emphasizing the ‘I’ and coming up to Tabby, resting her thin hands on her shoulders and looking her in the eyes. “You don’t belong here.”

Tabby looked back, confused.

“What do you mean?”

“This isn’t your story. This isn’t your timeline. I don’t know how we both got here, but we’re not supposed to be here.” she explained gently.

“B-but can we just stay here…just for a little longer… I just found you again after months of pain, loneliness, and mourning. I’ve seen my mom happy and Adam… We have everything good again. This was what was supposed to be,” she trailed off, failing miserably at the onslaught of tears streaming down her face. 

“Perhaps in another life in a different time, huh?” Autumn said solemnly, wiping the tears from her chubby cheeks.

“It’s just not fair!” Tabby wailed

“I know.”

“I don’t want you to go.”

“I know, but your people need you.”

“I don’t want to go.”

“I know. That’s why I’m forcing you to.”

“Huh?”

Autumn pushed Tabby as hard as she could back into the abyss that was her mind. It sucked her in like a black hole.

With that, Tabby woke up.

[project-rosewood-476]

Underneath The Willow Tree

It's just another drabble between Tabby and Autumn. Sometimes, you need motivation from your best friend to keep going. Tabby Anderson, Autumn Lemmory, Rosewood, and Maplehood Creek belong to me.

“How much longer do I have to stay still?” complained the younger brunette, holding an uncomfortable pose as her friend furiously scribbled and sketched across from her. Looking up at her every so often.

“Just a few more minutes…” murmured the ginger girl, not looking up from her masterpiece. 

Tabby sighed and looked at the willow switches swaying gently in the breeze. Being the only muse for your best friend is hard work. She closed her eyes and took a deep breath, enjoying the serenity of their secret hideaway.

Only for a few moments, of course. 

“Hey, I didn’t say we were done. Please pull your knees up a bit more and turn your head to the left, tilting up slightly, looking wistfully,” Autumn commanded with her pencil.

“Must I have to endure more? I already do enough as it is!” Tabby said in a vicious outburst and collapsed onto the ground, wincing at the impact it had on her bruises from the night before. Tabby realized what she had said quickly and turned over so she wouldn’t have to look at Autumn in shame.

Autumn stopped what she was doing, tossed everything aside, and went over to the sulking brunette beside her, soothingly rubbing her arm.

“That bad last night?”

She didn’t have to specify she knew what Tabby was on about.

Tabby hesitated for a few minutes before silently nodding; before she knew it, the silent tears came.

“It's just relentless...It's never-ending..it just keeps getting worse. I don’t know how much more I can take.”

Autumn has noticed that the bruises Tabby keeps coming in with are worsening, but she didn’t want to say anything about it.

Only she knew the full extent of what goes on at home.

Autumn didn’t know what to say for the longest time. She just sat there powerless, rubbing tabbys arm in an attempt to comfort her and let her cry it out before Tabby calmed down by shaky hiccupping breaths and handing her a tincture that helps heal the bruising faster. Something that she carried on hand for her at all times. She watched Tabby down like a champ before speaking again.

“Look up. What do you see?” asked Autumn gently as she pulled Tabby onto her back, looking up at the sky, and laid down with her on the opposite end.

“I see the willow tree branches hanging above us?” said Tabby, unsurely if that's what Autumn was getting at. 

“Exactly, and do you know what willow trees symbolize?” she prodded.

Tabby sat up on her elbows.

“They stand for the ability to withstand hardships and loss; what's your point?”

“My point is,” Autumn began,” That’s you. You are the willow tree. I mean, look at you! Lord knows you don’t have it easy.”

“No one does here.”

“But especially you. No one has the mental strength to survive here and at home like you do! You are unbreakable enough to come back daily for your friends and family! You are an inspiration and a hero to us all, and I think that deserves some celebrating.”

Tabby sat fully up, blushing a little with that lopsided grin. “You think so?”

Autumn laughed. “I know so.”

That made Tabby laugh in return.

“Alright, I guess we can continue.” she can never say no to her best friend.

Autumn returned to her art supplies and picked up her pad and pencil again.

“Okay, now from the top.”

[project-rosewood-476]

Chapter 9/ New School New Me Or So I Thought

Hey everyone sorry for not posting this chapter for a little over a year and a half. I was working on it little by little but then I graduated and got a job at a nice restaurant as a line cook which takes up the majority of my time now a days. Also got a bf too and he takes up the other half of my time. Also working on getting a car and have to find an apartment by January or else I'd be kicked out of the housing that my restaurant provides. So things will be hectic for awhile. But when things slow down I'll get into the habit of writing and posting more.

Other than that here's Chapter 9

Summary: It's Tabbys and Toby's first day of school again. What was supposed to be a cakewalk turned into something more difficult than their used to. Not to mention Tabby has to face her fears and feelings and come face to face with an enemy of her past. Sometimes the past just won't leave you alone. Will she give up for good? Or will she try and try again?

TW: swearing, portraying of panic attacks

Portrations of some characters and the pocket belong to @creepypasta-shtick. Mapplehood Creek, Tabby and Horatio belong to me.

No one knows how long Tabby was asleep. She was asleep if she wasn’t caring for herself, picking a fight with Hoodie, or having brief interactions with Toby. That's all she seemed to do nowadays. They say that people who just got out of a horrible situation will sleep for a long time to begin healing because their bodies need it. Maybe that's what Tabby was doing.

Today was a new day, the day Tabby and Toby were supposed to go to this new school for the mission. Greengrove High, it was called. Toby was up and at em already; meanwhile, Hoodie would have to be the one to wake Tabby up, and he was not happy about it.

And Tabby was not happy about the way he did it.

“Hey, what the fuck was that for!” Tabby groaned, annoyed at the rude awakening, and the mattress flipped over and on her. “Boss said to wake you up, so I did. Get up; you have school today,” stated Hoodie coldly and simply, although amused that he was able to inconvenience her first thing in the morning mildly. 

He gave her a condescending look before walking out of her room and closing the door behind him. As he walked out, Tabby gave him the finger before flopping back down for a few more precious minutes of sleep.

Everyone was already downstairs before she headed down. Toby was scarfing down a bowl of cereal. Masky was sitting at the kitchen table drinking his coffee while trying to chat with Hoodie, who was doing his best to ignore him while reading the paper. Everyone’s eyes landed on Tabby as she made her way down the last few steps, grumbling as she adjusted her clothes.

“Good morning, Tabby. Hoodie told me you had a..uh.. difficult time waking up,” Masky said slowly while Hoodie snickered unkindly as he turned the page in the paper. 

That led Tabby to give him the dirtiest glare up to date thus far. She didn’t even bother to provide them with a response as she felt like they didn’t deserve her precious waste of breath. She went to make a cup of coffee for herself, too anxious to keep anything solid down. She made it to her liking before downing that, making herself a second cup, and sipping that one more slowly. “So, how are you feeling?” asked Masky, trying to break the awkward tension in the room.         “Fucking miserable, thanks for asking,” answered Tabby into her cup as she was taking another sip. 

“How are you feeling about starting school again?” asked Toby between bites of cereal.

“Don’t talk with your mouthful! It's fucking rude and disgusting!” snapped Hoodie.

Toby took a bigger bite and chewed more loudly and obnoxiously, causing the two to bicker back and forth before Masky had to step in.

“Guys, knock this shit off! It is 6:45 in the morning! I don’t need this shit first thing!” Masky said irritatedly.

Tabby chuckled at the fact that Hoodie was getting what he deserved and at Toby’s antics. A lot of people would find them annoying and obnoxious by now. But not her.

“Honestly, I’m anxious as fuck to the point where I’m nauseous. I haven’t been to public school in 8 years. I reek of Rosewood; I have a lot of Rosewood mannerisms. Not to mention I’ve been missing for about two to three weeks now, so people know what I look like and have been looking for me.” she looked pale.

“Oh, man…” she ran to the bathroom, holding her hand to her mouth to not let anything escape. You could hear her yakking up in there. Masky looked at Hoodie worriedly. Hoodie just rolled his eyes and looked back at him, annoyed, and Toby just stared down his food, having completely lost his appetite.

A few moments later, she came out and wiped her mouth on the sleeve of her jacket.

“Okay! Let's get this shit show on the road! Toby, let's go! We got a half-hour walk, and school starts at 7:47!” she said with an upbeat tone, trying to hype herself up. “Have a good day at school!” Masky gave a small wave with his hand.

“You’re not my dad! Don’t tell me what to do!” yelled Tabby as she was halfway out the door.

“I’m coming!” said Toby hurriedly as he shoved some more food in his mouth before running to catch up with the girl already out the door.

The door closed as Masky gave Hoodie another look of worry.

“You think they’ll be able to do this?”

“They better be.”

—----------------------------------------------------------------------------

Tabby was already a few feet ahead of Toby as he ran to catch up with her.

“You know where we’re going?” he asked, breathless.

“Of course I do. I know this town like the back of my hand. It's just a few blocks away from Rosewood Prep. It takes about 30 minutes or so from where we live. I used to walk to Rosewood from where I lived for eight years, which took about 20 minutes. We will pass the place on our way there. I know many escape routes underground and the back roads,” said Tabby, proud to show off her knowledge but also talking out of anxiety.

Toby nodded. He understood.

“Hey, will you be okay?” 

Tabby just sighed and groaned.

“I can take care of myself just fine. I’ve been dealing with this anxiety for as long as I can remember. I promise you it won’t compromise the mission.”

Toby remained quiet for the rest of the walk, hearing her annoyed tone. Would he be bullied again? He would have no idea how to act around humans. He could stand up for himself but didn’t want to jeopardize the mission.

It wasn’t until they came across Rosewood and he felt a dark, suffocating energy overcome him that he was pulled out of his thoughts. He had never felt so uneasy and had the urge to fly so much before. Tabby, on the other hand, looked very relaxed. Like all of her stress and worries, it dissipated. It was good to be back in familiar territory again. Tabby stopped in front of the Rosewood gates and hung off the bars on the outside, looking in. She took a deep breath and let out a sigh of contentment.

“Hey, uh Tabby, I think we should get-” said Toby anxiously.

“You’re free to go ahead without me, and I’ll catch up with you. If not, I’d advise you to look around here.”

Reluctantly, Toby stood by Tabby, becoming an outsider looking in even though every instinct was begging him to run away from the place. 

It was an old, ancient, and broad building. It would be charming if it didn’t have an eerie and sinister feel. You can tell by the way there was the smell of blood, despair, and stale death that accompanied all Rosewood people that some shit had gone down there and that there was a dark and rich history behind it. There were many fields and pathways—an old, dark academic vibe. Many students were in waves of reds, whites, blacks, and tans for the uniforms. They were all off in their respective groups. Instead of Rosewood society's usual hustle and bustle, they were quieter, skittish, and withdrawn.

“Did you hear about what happened to Tabby?”

“I heard she got done in by Horatio!”

“I heard she got did in with her group as well!”

“I heard she started the fires as a distraction and ran away, never looking back. Pulled a real Laura Nightingale there!”

“Guys, I think she's still out there! There’s no way she would just leave us like that! I believe she is still out there as our guardian angel, waiting for the right time to strike and put the wrongs to the right and exact her bloody revenge!”      The students whispered and gossiped in their groups while Toby looked ready to bolt. Tabby had the devil's grin on her face.

“This is awesome; they think I’m dead! I’m an absolute legend here! I’m like the next Laura Nightingale!” giggled Tabby as she broke away from the bars of the gates and walked with more pep in her step and a more visibly relaxed posture.

Toby ran to catch up to her, thankful to leave the place.

In the back, somewhere, a dark-haired boy was prowling around the courtyard, doing his daily rounds of which kids would be his target next.

He thought it was good now that Tabby was gone for good since she hadn’t shown up for months. He finally won. He proved to be Rosewood’s Top leader, and the King of Rosewood has finally regained his tyrannical reign.

He thought that would make him happy.

But it didn’t. Quite the opposite, he was worried, no he was paranoid.

But why? Didn’t he get what he wanted? It’s not like Tabby has the mental and physical strength to fight him again, as proven by her cowardice to run.

Still, he didn’t like the rumors that were going around. Some better, some worse, and all greatly exaggerated from spectrum to spectrum. Pretty mixed reviews.

However, all rumors held to the same message.

Tabby will be back one way or another, and Karma will collect her dues. 

No doubt that she’ll be getting him first.

That thought scared him to death.

He shook his head to get rid of the paranoid thoughts. No matter that, it was neither here nor there.

Besides, he had places to be.

—----------------------------------------------------------------------------

“Who is this Laura Nightingale?” he asked, finally catching up to her and catching his breath.

“She's kind of our folk hero and urban legend there! She went to Rosewood way back when it was Rosewood Asylum. She set up the foundations of our culture and society for what we know today! She fought against the tyranny and corruption of the asylum as best as she could with her group in hand. She was the leader of the Cult of St. Jude, which was like a resistance group somewhat. Some say she was the one who started the fire that ended the asylum days. Legend has it that she walked into the woods in the back of the property, never looking back and never to be seen again,” explained Tabby, excitedly happy to share her knowledge on the subject matter.

“Wait, you mean THE Laura? The one with all the tattoos who is like the cool aunt that you threw knives with?” asked Toby, speaking fast with the realization.

“Wait, you mean to tell me that the woman I threw knives with was THE Laura Nightingale? The legend in the flesh?” 

“I mean, she came to the pocket about 30 years ago. They said that she came out from fire, brimstone, and ash, and the Slenderman had been watching her for some time and made her an offer she couldn’t refuse.”

Tabby looked at him in disbelief and embarrassment.

“So you mean to tell me the entire time I looked like an amateur idiot, I was talking to THE Laura Nightingale?”

Toby laughed.

“Yeah, I guess so.”

Tabby huffed, crossed her arms, and looked away.

“Well, now I feel embarrassed.”

“Don’t be. I’m sure at some point in the future, you can talk to her again and redeem yourself,” he chuckled as he moved past her. Tabby ran to keep up.

The rest of the walk there was uneventful and quiet, both mentally preparing themselves for the new school day. They finally got there, and both looked at the broadening stairs and doors before looking at each other.

“You ready?”

“Have no choice but to be.”

They gave each other a reassuring look before heading in.

—----------------------------------------------------------------------------

School proved to be a lot tougher than they thought it would be. They both struggled to fit in as they stuck out like sore thumbs. To each for different reasons. Toby was more of a social outcast. Being homeschooled all his life and being a proxy created more of the uncanny valley effect for the rest of humanity. They knew something was off about him that was dangerous and made people stay away. Plus, his school knowledge was abysmal compared to Tabby’s. Tabby had that sickly dark rosewood aura that accompanied all rosewood kids who went there. It's how they identified each other. The longer you’re away from the school, the less noticeable it is on top of her Rosewood mannerisms. Never speak unless spoken to. Not mingling with the other kids who had their own established groups. She sat prim and proper as all Rosewood children were taught to do when they stepped foot into the classroom. Not to mention, her academic prowess exceeded the rest of the children there. She looked at the other kids with pity as she rapid-fired answers to the questions. They wouldn’t survive an hour back at home. Tabby played her role as the teacher's pet well.

       It wasn’t until lunch that things went downhill. It didn’t take long for Toby to use his awkward charm to make a few new friends. Which Tabby didn’t like and scowled at them. She spent her lunch alone with her head down in her hand, shoving food into her mouth to drown out her problems. She knew that socializing was a part of the mission, and he played the part well. But seeing  Toby smiling and laughing with a small group of people, which consisted more of females, did something to her and nothing good. It made her blood boil and made her feel hurt and rejected. Did he not want to be around her anymore? Did he not like her? She admits that she could be mean and selfish, and bitchy and lacks empathy. It was tiring to be around that constantly could push anyone away. Why did she have to constantly push people away who even remotely get an inch closer to her? Why did she continue to do so? Why did it bother her so much that he was hanging out with other people? She wasn’t usually a jealous person. She believed in free will, and they both could choose to do whatever and whoever they wanted. It’s not like they were exclusively dating. Hell, they weren’t even friends!

Still, why did she feel so hurt by it?

Tabby sighed and shook her head, resting it on her arms. She supposes she’ll sleep her lunch away.

That was until she felt an eerie, dark, all too familiar presence enter the room. She opened one eye to see what all the whispering was about, and she almost had a damn near heart attack with her breath sucked in, and her eyes widened in fear and despair at the sight before her.

“No, it can’t be..” she begged in thought.

“Good afternoon, everyone! My name is Horatio Galloway, and I’ll be joining you briefly to get a feel for the student body here and see what changes I can do to make the school better,” he faked a laugh. However, it was a laugh that everyone bought as most kids were cheering and clapping along. He seemed to make eye contact with Tabby as he had a smug, triumphant smile, almost like he figured her out.

All except a handful of students who looked massively uncomfortable and Toby as he saw Tabby’s fear and distress and what seemed like a panic attack going on.

Tabby made a bolt for the cafeteria doors to the bathroom to hide, and Toby excused himself and followed suit. 

—------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Toby quickly found Tabby as he could hear her vomiting and coughing through her sobs.

“Tabby..are you okay in there?” he called out cautiously as he knocked on the nearest girls' bathroom door.

Tabby vomited again before responding.

“No..” she said in between coughs.

Toby debated for a bit before deciding to come in. The bathroom was white and pinkish-red. And it smelled of perfume, flowers, and chemicals, with sinks lined up in a row and a big mirror stretching from one end of the wall to another. And to top it off, a white and pinkish red tile floor. Oh god, he hoped that there wasn’t anyone else in there... How embarrassing that would be? Still, he cared for Tabby despite what she thought; all of the embarrassment and shame was worth it. He recognized those dirty, beat-up Converse from anywhere. 

“Tabby..Can I come in?” he said meekly.

“yeah ..” she weakly said and struggled to push herself up to unlock the stall before collapsing against the wall next to the toilet and sliding down.

Toby busted in there, and the sight of Tabby was heart-wrenching. She was a hiccuping mess between crying, vomiting, and hyperventilating. She was pale, and her eyes were red and puffy. She was taking quick, shallow breaths. Still hyperventilating but didn’t have the energy to. She looked at him, petrified, with her legs pulled up and her arms wrapped around herself in an attempt to make herself small and protected. Didn’t even care that he was in a girls' bathroom in a stall with her in it!                                                                                                                                                                                                            Right now, she was vulnerable.

“H-hey, what happened?” he jerked his head hard to the left, almost banging it on the stall wall.

“He’s back…why is he back? What is he doing here? I thought I was safe..” she whispered, holding herself tighter to self-soothe.

“Was that the Horatio guy you were telling me about?” he whispered back as he yanked on his right ear.

Tabby nodded.

Toby sat up in realization as he put two and two together. Now, he had a face for the name, which was helpful to him.

“I thought I was safe here..I should have known better..” muttered Tabby in a defeated voice.

Tabby’s comment pulled him from his thoughts, and he hesitantly hugged the girl and pulled her close. He wasn’t exactly big on physical contact, but he could tell she needed it, and she didn’t pull away either. She only clung to him for dear life and buried her face into his chest as she inhaled his scent to calm down and hide away from the world in pitch black.

She knows she is safe with him even if Toby didn’t say it and probably never will until he dies.

Ironic, isn’t it?

It wasn’t until Toby gently pushed her off of him that she sat up, albeit visibly shaken, but doing much better now. She had that tired, slight smile on her.

“Do you wanna get out of here?” he asked, jerking his head again. Even though it was a tic, he was using it as a gesture to get out.

“Toby Rogers, are you suggesting we skip our first day of school and go home?” she playfully scolded. 

“I mean, if that's what you want. Staying here for the rest of the day will probably make you much worse, y’know, seeing him again. And besides, we got three months to figure this -fuck- shit out. With us working together, we’ll do this mission in no time!” he said excitedly, trying to hype her up and reaching out his hand for her to grab it.

Tabby sat on the ground for a minute, contemplating. Sure, Tabby has skipped classes occasionally, but not the rest of the school day deliberately. However, it wasn’t a bad idea. Besides, if all of the other days will be like today, it’s probably best that she stop while ahead and try again tomorrow.

“Okay, sure,” she said as she broke into a complete smile, grabbed his forearm, and lifted herself.

“Awesome!” 

With that, he grabbed her hand and practically ran out the door.

[project-rosewood-476]

Happy 20th Birthday Tabby Anderson 🥳🧁🎂🎈

[project-rosewood-476]

Toby: we gotta act like we don't know each other so masky doesn't suspect a thing so play dumb!

Tabby: who's tabby?

Toby: Not that dumb!

[project-rosewood-476]

Rivals

Art was done by @xxxamerican-psychoxxx and you should go check them out!

[project-rosewood-476]

A potential scene for ERHIT if you will 👀👀

Breaking the rules because sleeping together somehow brings comfort and stops the nightmares.

Art was done by @xxxamerican-psychoxxx

[project-rosewood-476]

What...

Have...

The...

Years...

Done...

To...

Us?

This is Chase Chasteaway and Connor Carters both from Tabby's world from the Rosewood's orphanage days. Some parallels will be shown later on in the series...maybe...👀👀

Art was made by @xxxamerican-psychoxxx and you should commission for them and check them out!

[project-rosewood-476]

Nothing to see here just a couple of bad asses sipping on juice boxes chilling.

This wonderful art for a potential future scene in book 2 of ERHIT was made by @xxxamerican-psychoxxx and you should check them out.

[project-rosewood-476]

World Building for Rosewood Prep and Maplehood Creek and its neighboring towns

Q: Does your world have an education system? If so what areas of study are the most valued? A: It does! In Maplehood Creek there's Rosewood prep, a k-12 school, and most of the colleges are affiliated with Rosewood. There's also Maplehood Creek Elementary which is K-5, Maplehood Creek Middle school which is 6-8, and Maplehood High for 9-12 for the regular folks. Holy Ann has three main schools same as Applewood. Although Holy Ann is more of a rural area so it doesn't have a whole lot of funding unlike its counterparts of Applewood and Rosewood Prep. As for areas of study business, sciences and the arts are the three most valued areas of study since most of the colleges in Maplehood are business-related. Rosewood prides itself on having its students be the smartest and most cultured.

2. Q: What are the most undervalued jobs in your world? Who works them? A: Anything to do with children or public cleaning. So as teachers, babysitters, childcare workers, garbage workers, and public health workers. For the teachers, it depends on where they're teaching. At Rosewood it's very hard to get out of the system once you're in you either die in it or become a part of it. And unfortunately, Rosewood people face mass discrimination in the outside world so it's hard to find housing and a job out there. Rosewood is the only safe haven for them. A lot of the teachers there are people who grew up in the system. The colleges prestigious as they may aren't any better. It's just a mere promotion with more scrutiny. A lot of teachers at the other schools follow passions rather than logic. Most of them want to teach to help the kids even though the pay isn't very well. As for the public cleaning services people, it's usually criminals who can't get a job anywhere else and those rare people that manage to get out of Rosewood's system.

3. Q: Which genre of music is most popular? A: In Maplehood Creek it's pop/ classic rock (At Rosewood rich kids claim that classical music is their favorite since they're just THAT pretentious but it's really alternative/punk that seems to be a favorite of all kids there). Applewood is alternative/indie music because they're try-hards at being popular. Holy Ann, it's country/folk music.

4. Q: How common is it to speak a language that's not your own? A: It depends! It's really common in the downtown area of Maplehood Creek since that's where all of the businesses are so there's a lot of diversity between the employees and the employers. I can honestly say that the only good thing Rosewood has going for them is that it's very diverse there too! from Rich kids traveling around speaking 5 languages since they were like 5 to all kinds of ethnicities going to school there. And starting in the 6th grade there you can choose up to 3 languages to learn there from its variety selection. Applewood only does it so they can claim to be fancy and educated but really it's just for show. And they usually speak up to two languages max. In Holy Ann, it's not very common but they don't judge mostly.

5. Q: How is public intimacy regarded? A: Same as anywhere else as long as ya know you're not fucking in public (or at least don't get caught) or butt ass naked with each other then it's fine and it's really a matter of preference from person to person. As for Rosewood, however, you can have relationships there but those come at very high stakes if made known to the public in that school. That's more ammo that others can take away and use against you and cause all kinds of problems and it's generally not safe. It's not frowned upon but it's better to keep romantic involvements on the down-low. On the more platonic/familial side, it's very common to see people hanging off, laying on one another, and cuddling with their groups. It's especially common to see mass cuddle puddles of the larger groups in the courtyards after school. Since just about everyone there is touch starved and it's not like the teachers can do anything about it since there are more kids than there are of them.

6. Q: Does age play a role in how much respect a person gets at first glance? Why? A: It does, unfortunately. A lot of school-age children are treated like shit. The adult authority (and the teachers and the majority of the older kids at Rosewood) view them as stupid, naive burdens because that's how adult authority is. Kids have it rough in the town of Maplehood Creek and Rosewood. There's a higher mortality rate for the younger children at Rosewood due to neglect and abuse. 12 is the coming of age at Rosewood. You're not a small child, you're on the brink of teenagehood and are more responsible for your actions. You get higher consequences. That's also when you'd be starting to fight the more prominent people and are in the running for trial at the school if you did something wrong. 12 is when you start fighting more to gain more respect and to be taken seriously. Teen years are rough but not as rough as when you were a kid. You still have little to no respect but it's certainly much more than a kid. Seniors at Rosewood are very well respected and looked up to. they survived 12 years of Rosewood's bullshit more or less and that's no small feat. So they definitely earned respect and in society 17-18 everyone gets more relaxed and given more respect.

7. Q: which meals or foods are considered classics or universally loved? A: so at Rosewood it varies. More times than not the school lunches were poisoned by someone or another. So either people brought their own lunches, the older wealthier students went out to eat or some kids went hungry. But sharing meals that other people bought with their own money or from home with their groups was common. For Tabby and her gang on one of their birthdays, one of her friends would bring in a loaf of banana bread and use it as cake and share it amongst her friends.

10. Q: How are criminals punished? A: it depends on what you did at Rosewood. There are honor and fight codes that serve as laws there and a few unwritten social rules. How the justice system at school works is that there is a trial of sorts. The teachers' pets of that grade the criminal was in would serve as judges and you'd have a jury of your peers of 11 people. You are given free rein to justify yourself and prove your innocence and if you were convincing enough the jury would vote either guilty or not guilty. Depending on the severity of the crime you'd either got locked up somewhere for the rest of the school day, got beat, or the death sentence to which you were sent to Horatio's way.

11. Q: What is the worst possible crime that a person could commit? A: treason to your group that you swore to defend and protect. whether that be ratting them out, abandoning them, or killing them yourself.

13. Q: what are the 3 most common past times? A: Studying/tutoring, fighting, or hanging out with friends.

14. Q: How are people like the police regarded by the public? A: Alright look Rosewood people have a problem with authority as it is especially the adults that abuse their power. There's also a lot of profiling against Rosewood kids simply by being Rosewood. So yeah there's a lot of tension, distrust, a dislike for police, or anything to do with the law.

15. Q: Are there any gender roles or stereotypes that exist? If so what are they? A: Not so much as gender roles it's pretty much a free for all there. But there's definitely a stereotype for Rosewood kids that makes it hard for them to get into colleges, apartments, and jobs. The stereotype is that all Rosewood people are mentally unstable violent criminals or at least criminals in the making. 16,17.18. Q: How are LGBTQ, disabled, and POC people treated? A: The one good thing about Rosewood is that it has a lot of diversity. Nobody really cares about who and what you are as long as you can fight and is loyal to your group. At best people will go 'oh cool' if you tell them your gender/sexuality and use the pronouns you wish to use. And if they're not sure they'll be polite and ask questions for better understanding. Of course, there are homo/trans/bi the whole 9 yards phobic teachers but just remember there is more of you than there is of them. No one may think that your identity is a big deal but your group will sure as hell defend you. There's a lot of accessibility at Rosewood. It's very friendly towards mobility aides. And just like any school, they have 501 plans for students who require them. However, surviving at school is a whole different story. That school is very fight survival of the fittest oriented. If you can't fight then you best hope to god that your group still finds you useful. Not to mention the punishments that the teachers dish out not giving a rats ass about disability. All I can say is that your best hope is you have a good group that will protect you and not sees you as dead weight. POC are treated the same as LGTBQ people. As long as you don't fuck over your group, are loyal to them, and can at least hold your own you're good to go and they will respect you and got your back. Of course, there are a few racist teachers and richer older white students but again there's more of you than there is of them.

20. Q: Do people w/ mental illness have access to resources that they might need (such as medications and therapists)? A: *laughs* fuck no. At least not in the school itself. I'm sure that some of them do back home but this school is full of mentally ill people and you think the authority there gives a rats ass about making them better? Sure they might have already been prescribed medication from home at school but that's a hit or miss if the school nurses give it to them or not. Of course, there is a therapist hired by the school but let's be honest here do you really think the kids would trust any adult authority there? yeah me neither. Let's just say I feel bad for the kids who live in the boarding section of the school.

22. Q: If any what are the stereotypes that exist for each age group? A: k-3 can't protect themselves (you'd be surprised what a group of feral kids can do) innocent (to an extent yes). 4-5 either wish they could go back to being with the k-3 kids or can't wait to be perceived as a big kid or "like the grown-ups" no in-between. 6-8 think they're bad ass thinks they know it all arrogant getting too big for their britches. 9-12 acting like old senior people. a full-fledged grown-up. Can't be trusted by younger kids. Too old for fun.

23. Q: What is more valued the arts or sciences? A: The sciences. Intelligence is the only thing that matters at Rosewood. 24. Q: What constitutes standard intelligence? A: being able to at least do double-digit multiplication. Having the average of a 4th-grade education.

25. Q: Think of the biggest accomplishments or events in your world's history. Is there a certain theme that carries through them all? A: Freedom, justice, and rebellion

32. Q: If anything what will absolutely not be tolerated in your world? A: treason to your group.

33. Q: What does a typical family look like? A: For a lot of people there they would consider their group as a family. it consists of 3 or more people. The lowest being 3 and the most at 25. It varies.

35. Q: What role does music play in your society? A: music is what brings people together at Rosewood. This only happens twice a year.

40. Q: If any what are the most famous pieces of literature or most famous authors? Why are they so well known? A: The poem of mourning Underneath the Willow tree. It's so culturally important to the people of rosewood. It was either written by Nicoli or Laura but no one can agree on which. It's so important because it's the core foundation for Rosewood's most sacred rituals.

43. Q: Is there anyone in your history that is regarded as truly evil? A: Yes. Amadeus Rosewood. The founder of Rosewood's home for wayward children. The man who started it all.

45. Q: What are some common first date activities? A: skipping class to go get ice cream, skipping class to go to one of the many hiding places in the school to hang out and maybe have a so-called picnic in the school.

47. Q: How common is it for people to go out w/ a group of friends or family vs. alone? A: In Mapplehood it's always best to go out with at least one other person especially at night in the main strip of town. It's common sense there.

49. Q: At what age is a person considered "old"? A: 18 by Rosewood standards you've been there for 12 years and that's a long time since very few people survive that long.

50. Q: At what point is it less offensive to be considered old by younger people? A: like in your 30s once you get out of Rosewood or become a teacher there.

52. Q: What makes it easy for a person to consider a house a home? A: The vast majority of Rosewood kids believe that home isn't a place where you live its a feeling you get with a group of people that you consider your family. A home is supposed to make you feel safe like you belong there and show you love and understanding and acceptance. So in short Home is where your family is and I mean your real family.

55. Q: How might the rich display their wealth? A: they flaunt it by getting away with so many rule-breaking good grades without doing all the work and being able to be alone for long periods of time without a group. Sometimes bride the teacher with wads of cash in front of you or brag about the lavish vacations that they took.

57. Q: What skills are important to have? A: survival and some sort of self-defense

61. Q: Is there any dedicated time for relaxation (like the weekend or a long holiday?) A: two days a year. Rosewood Preps spirit week (the Friday of the pep rally just so happens to be Rosewood's foundation day) and the end of the year picnic that's the day before graduation.

65. Q: Is there a traditional process for mourning loved ones who have passed? A: here's a post on how Rosewood honors their dead

66. Q: In general how much do people gesture when they speak? A:

68. Q: What does a person have to do to be considered a prodigy? A: There are only 3 ways that you get into Rosewood. Being problematic enough to be taken out of polite society, Being a genius or very rich. So just by being at Rosewood alone usually signifies being a prodigy of some sort.

Q: How closely do your OCS observe their cultures' traditional holidays? 1a) Is a holiday they celebrate regionally specific? 1b) What does that holiday represent and how is it celebrated? A: Tabby absolutely adores Rosewood culture. She lives for Rosewood's spirit week and the end of the school year picnic. Rosewood's spirit week represents the one day a year where no one had to be ashamed to be a Rosewood kid. Everyone bands together to shout out loud and proud and celebrate their Rosewood ways. The end of the year picnic represents the long reflection of how far everyone has come so far at Rosewood and everyone can kick back and relax and hang out with friends and enjoy the fruits of their labor until next year hits.

2. Q: Which OC's family or friends have an unusual holiday tradition? 2a) How did it begin? A: yes but it's sort of an epic and wholesome tradition. It began when Tabby was 13 and Autumn convinced her to sneak out of the house with the rest of the gang for New Years' Eve at a cool abandoned warehouse that she discovered over the summer. After a night of drinking, singing, and dancing around a fire and reflecting on how far they came all together and in one piece. It became their place and a tradition for the next 3 years.

3. Q: Do your OCs celebrate the Day of the Dead? 3a) Are they honoring anyone who recently departed? 3b) Who if anyone are they celebrating with? A: Not necessarily the Day of the Dead but if the anniversary of a death of a loved one at Rosewood happens they'll have a drink or two for them and recite the mourning poem Underneath the Willowtree to remember them by. Maybe have a conversation with their grave too while they're at it. If anyone of their remaining group is alive they'll celebrate with them or by themselves.

4. Q: Do your OCs have any prominent or character-building memories associated with a holiday? A: Yes. with the new years' tradition.

Questions are from these posts

[project-rosewood-476]

Chapter 8/ Of Mind and Matter

Chapter 8 is out and about after this I'd probably have to take a break for a while before I'd have time to update

Summary: Tabby is out cold for a while so I think it's time for the boys to do a little introspection on themselves and examine their thoughts and interactions not only with their newest member but with each other too.

Tabby Anderson, Maplehood Creek, and Rosewood Prep belong to me, and The Pocket and the interpretation of the creeps belong to @creepypasta-shtick

Tabby was found asleep on her bed. That is the most peaceful sleep that she’s ever going to get. It became a concern when she didn’t wake up. She was still breathing but it was like she was in a coma. Everyone was a bit freaked out until Toby had to explain to them and EJ that she had narcolepsy and Insomnia. So she doesn’t have the circadian rhythm to go to sleep at a regular time and wake up at a regular time. And she makes up for the lack of sleep by going into a coma for a week. Which was fine because they didn’t start school until next Monday but it was a little unnerving at first. This just means that the boys can have time to themselves and do what they wanted without a newbie hanging around.

   Toby was a little disappointed that Tabby wasn’t up so he’d have someone to hang out with. He kinda looked like a lost puppy for a while until he had no choice but to retreat to his room. He flopped onto his bed backward with his hands over his head, staring up at the ceiling, and let out a deep breath. It wasn’t her fault he knew of her narcolepsy but he was hoping to spend some time with her. Although he didn’t know why he was itching to see her again even though she was in the next room over. It's not like he didn’t like hanging out with Masky, Hoodie, and EJ. Although Masky often got on his nerves, Hoodie could be a prick more times than not and EJ wasn’t a social person, to begin with, and often pushed him away. But none of them were Tabby. 

Tabby was interesting, to say the least. Definitely not like most humans that he’s ever met. Despite her showing up in the dead of night covered from head to toe with all kinds of bruises and scars and looking like she hasn’t eaten in months. She kind of reminds him of a mangy feral alley cat. She still wanted to put up a fight and she didn’t run. It was almost like the concept of fear and common sense didn’t exist to her. In the face of a mass amount of danger even if all of the odds were against her there she still stood wide stance and fists up. Normally from his understanding humans show fear towards people like them. She did not which was as the Slenderman put it amusing.

A thing that was bugging him was that he was still trying to figure out why he went out of his way to save her that night. Masky was right it was a major breach of conduct and it was her fault for being at the wrong place at the wrong time. Toby wasn’t the one to break the rules most of the time out of fear and respect for the Slenderman contrary to popular belief. That’s how he gets away with most things because he doesn’t do it often. That was how he got away with this. Tabby didn’t want to be alive to begin with he should have let Masky do away with her or Hoodie since he knew that Hoodie would have no qualms in doing so. Yet he risked what little life he had so she could be spared. He didn’t know why. Maybe it was her fearlessness that was drawn to him. Maybe it was her sharp wit and honesty. Maybe it was her ability to make quick rational decisions in a life or death situation. Or maybe it was because he saw her bruises and scars some old some new and all varying different sizes and knew where she was coming from. He finally met someone with the same pains as him. Regardless of why something told him to go against the rules and his superiors. He didn’t think that he still had any free will left after a long while. But he can honestly say he didn’t regret it not one bit.

Now he has a new person in his life that he doesn’t actually hate being around or is forced to. In just a short time of knowing her he knows so much yet so little at the same time. Easy to talk to but hard to explain. She was an open book she didn’t hide anything exactly but she wasn’t an easy read for the most part. He learned that she ran away from whatever was happening in her old life, she went to Rosewood Prep, She recently lost all of her friends and is seeking out revenge on a guy named Horatio Galloway. She hates her dad, is neutral on her mom and loves what he assumes to be her little brother. Her favorite color is teal, she’s not a picky eater and likes to cook and read. She has a bandaged paralyzed hand, she doesn’t trust others to cook for her or trust anyone at all. She has sleep disorders and others too. 

Yet there was so much more that he didn’t know. Why was she so bothered by the killing of the parents? What trauma did she endure to have that? Why was she struggling with not helping out the kids? Why did she look so hurt at the other groups? And what exactly happened when she did kill those parents? That was something so dark and depraved and it was unlike he’s ever seen before. And he thought Jeff was crazed and violent but he was sure now that Tabby would give him a run for his money. It still disturbed him.

    Still, he appreciated and accepted her darker aspects just as much as he appreciated her other aspects. He greatly admired her drive to stick up for herself although he didn’t like how she was so confrontational with Hoodie all the time. How is it that they have suffered similar abuse yet come out as two totally different people? Toby tends to avoid confrontation with others and lacks the ability to stand up for himself and Tabby had no problem calling out others on their shit and fighting them on it and had the need to fight for herself like she needed it to survive. He doesn’t know. He did know that her mental strength was greater than his which he respected. He also greatly admired the fact that she was able to do what she thought was right regardless of consequences. He’d be lying if he didn’t say he didn’t feel a tingle of pride and thrill of disobeying authority and everything he was taught to believe were wrong. It was relieving to believe that he hasn’t lost his last bit of humanity that maybe just maybe he wasn’t a monster. He was massively proud of himself and of Jane and Tabby. He hoped that she was proud of him too. Although he wasn’t sure why he cared about what she thought of him.

Even though Toby knew of Tabby’s deathwish he hoped that she would change her mind and choose to stick around longer. He had so much to show her and so much to teach her. That there was more to this life than being a proxy. That’s why he showed her around town not only to show her where things were but to show her that it was possible to live a better and semi-normal life. He didn’t know her for long but he already knew that he’d be devastated if she left his life. He would do everything in his power to keep her alive not as a mentor but as a friend. At least he hopes that someday she would consider him a friend and maybe one day be accepted as a part of her life as well. In the meantime, all he could do was sit back and stare off into space.

Masky was cleaning up the house and cooking lunch for himself. Toby can eat when he wants, EJ had…his own food, and Hoodie can fend for himself. He tried to get Toby to come down and help with the cleaning but it was to no avail. Masky stopped being huffy for awhile and grew to appreciate the serenity and quietness of the house. It has been a hot minute since he’s had some time to himself and to his thoughts. 

Because right now he needed to process.

Process the scrawny bratty newcomer that is turning his life upside down. He was growing tired of needing to constantly separate Tabby and Hoodie from their fights and it’s only happened twice. And judging by how vicious the both of them are it won’t be the last. However ever since that night where he convinced Tabby to apologize to Hoodie he had noticed their fighting dying down a lot. Even though it was just mainly them staying away from each other and giving each other short curt nods acknowledging each others presence and keeping their interactions brief and polite. He even noticed that ever since Tabby’s and Hoodie’s conversation with each other. He’s been…nicer to him almost pleasant to be around. He had no idea what Tabby said to Hoodie but something must have gotten his wheels turning in his head because it’s almost like he has his best friend back… Masky had a small grin on his face as he looked down and shook his head as he was sweeping. He was not expecting that especially from the twig that made it all possible. And to think he was going to kill her when they first met for interfering. He’s kinda glad that Toby had the backbone to stop him. He didn’t know what Tabby would be to his group. Would she be a liability? A snitch? Would she even be strong enough to make it? Would she completely take over? He didn’t know. Come to find out she proved to be tougher than she looked both mentally and physically as she was attempting to fight them the night that they met even if she had no chance in winning. And she was bold enough to call Hoodie out on his shit. Masky thought only he was able to do that. Whether it was bravery or stupidity on her part he’ll never know. He did know that she hated being told what to do, had a major problem with authority and major trust issues. Masky snorted. She sounds just like Hoodie.

He could tell that she wasn’t used to following orders and being on the bottom wrung again. And he understood. She had to give up her reputation and by the way that she talked it sounds like she’s spent years building it up. She was no longer a leader. It sucks having to start from the bottom up again, But oh well that’s the price you pay for starting over. You trade in your old life and everything it in exchange for nothing but starting anew and earning your way back to the top again. That’s just the way of the world. He was going to have to teach her how to follow the orders of others and do as she’s told but that would come with time. After all, if he could teach Toby those very same concepts in the matter of a year and he was worse off than she was then he could teach her in no time. He just needed patience which he had plenty of.

Yet it was those traits that made her have good leadership qualities. He noticed that she absolutely hates asking for help. Suggesting that she couldn’t trust anyone and had to do the job and figure it out herself. She had to trust her own judgment. And it was evident that she felt more comfortable when she was in control and had people to be responsible for. Hence when she tried to take responsibility for all of them when confronted with the slenderman for letting her live the night that they met. She showed accountability for her own stupidity. The first step into becoming a leader in his books. Not to mention when she took charge during the mini-mission with killing the parents and figuring out how to break in.  She gave useful information and understood orders and took Toby with her. Showing that she’s resourceful and when push comes to shove can take orders and has the ability to take charge. There’s no doubt when she settles in more and actually makes it through the whole process she’ll earn her right to be called a leader back.

Speaking of which there was still something that bothered him about her. It was their conversation from a couple of days ago. It was nice to know a little bit about her and to be honest she kind of reminded him of himself in his younger years. Working hard at a young age to get out of the shithole town with his friends and still never lost that hope that one day it will happen despite everything. And he would have if everything didn’t go down to shit and he didn’t end up where he is now. 

Although he’ll admit he did get what he wanted just not in the way that he wanted. He finally got out of that hellhole of a town and with the person, he cares about the most. Although this is not the life that he wanted and Brian wasn’t the same Brian that he knew and loved. He would have to take what he could get. Tabby spoke words of wisdom a couple of days ago about her experiences as a leader. She sounded pained. Like she knew just how much she fucked up and lost everything. She knew where she went wrong. She kept secrets and lied to her group which caused a breach of trust and that's when shit started to go downhill. Judging by the way she spoke about it it sounded like she had no other choice at the time to do so. Looking back on it now she should have found a way to tell them about what happened to her without putting them in danger she should have come clean about everything after. But she didn’t and that’s where she fucked up. Masky didn’t really agree fully with her philosophy of being group orientated. He was the leader and sometimes the group doesn’t always know the best and he would have to make that choice himself. On the other hand, only a foolish leader wouldn’t listen to the input of his group and Tabby was trying to help. She was right he did have a good thing going for him. He had a semi-decent life, he built up his reputation as a very capable proxy to the point where he didn’t have to fight as hard to survive and he was a leader of a very capable group. Albeit dysfunctional and lord knows that their relationships are strained as all hell. But it was all his. Just like Tabby, he lost everything once he didn’t want to lose the only good thing going for him.

Masky snapped back to reality and grumbled as he went back to cleaning. He hated how much she was able to get in his head. He felt uncomfortable that she was able to hit so close to home and apparently he wasn’t the only one…

Hoodie was driving to the grocery store to pick up some things for dinner. But really it was just an excuse for him to be by himself and have some time for his thoughts.

He was drumming his hands on the steering wheel to some classic rock song just jamming out finally being able to enjoy his solitude just the way he likes it. He only tolerates Toby, Tim is...complicated, EJ he’s neutral on and he hates Tabby. Tabby. That’s a name that has him pissed off yet slightly amused. The runt of the pack. At first, he was neutral towards her. Just a poor bitch who was at the wrong place at the wrong time. He didn’t have no qualms about killing her if he had to (and he still doesn’t) but at the same time, he saw no point in doing it. He honestly has no idea why he even suggested bringing her back to the Slenderman. They didn’t need another member of the team or another mouth to feed for that matter. But he was the one who came up with the idea to top the boys' bickering and was honestly surprised that Tabby made the choice to join them. Not like she had a choice anyway but it was still pretty bold and reckless on her part in his opinion. Even more bold and reckless when she dared to talk back to the Slenderman for defending them and trying to take all of the responsibility onto herself for her own actions. When she should have let them take their individual punishments if the Slenderman wanted to dish them out. Like a respectable person.

Yet it was her quick thinking. Her brash and brazen boldness and her weird sense of sincerity that the Slenderman let her live. That he himself let her live in the first place so the Slenderman could do so.

They both decided to let her live and she was making that everyone else’s problem.

“That ungrateful little bitch.” he said in thought as he felt his anger boil inside him as he gripped the steering wheel harder.

What a poor mistake that was on his part. Now he’s stuck with a mouthy bratty teenager with no respect for authority. God, she was worse off than Toby. At least he knows when to keep his mouth shut and was easier to control. At least Toby had some sort of respect for him. Tabby was the complete opposite. The more he tried to control and threaten and made her respect him the more mouthy, defiant, spiteful, and confrontational she got. He stopped at a red light and rested his head against the steering wheel for a brief moment. He had no idea what to do with her. Here was someone who was not afraid of him in any way. Someone who called him out on his shit and gave him a run for his money. The only one who was able to do that was Tim. It's unnerving, to say the least. Hoodie’s head shot up when he heard someone honk behind him and saw that the light was green. He grumbled as he scrambled to move the car forward.

He went back to his thoughts but they kept circling around Tabby and Tim. Which was annoying how he can’t get the brat out of his head. Specifically the conversation they had a couple of nights before. 

Even though Tabby had no respect for anyone and was spiteful as all hell he’d have to admit that she wasn’t exactly a bad kid. He was a little impressed that she was brave enough to go back and talk to him and actually own up to her mistakes. She was right in saying that they couldn’t keep going on like tis constantly at each other's throats it puts the group at risk and they were adults and they should act like one. Most people would have been too intimidated to do so. Not her though. Not Tabby. She held no concept of fear. It was honestly refreshing to him that she could be honest with him and not be intimidated by him to lie to his face. Although she could have better ways to express it than what she does now.

Tabby actually had more intelligence in there than she let on. She knew exactly who she was and what she stands for. Most people he’s met are so lost within themselves that it takes years to figure out who they are and what they stand for. Even then some people never figure it out. But here was Tabby who seemed to have a strong sense of self from a young age. He understood why she ran away from home and why she didn’t run from them. She did it for her own survival and it was so ingrained into her that failure and cowardice weren’t an option. Showing that she did have some sort of sense of self-preservation and at the same time she won’t back down or retreat and stand her ground even if the consequences are too much to bear. She won’t go down without a fight. Tabby also had determination and knew what she wanted. She wanted to avenge her friends to make up for what she failed to do and knew that what she was doing won’t bring them back but that’s not what she was here for. He didn’t know whether or not to appreciate the fact that Tabby could talk so freely to him when she compared him to bigfoot like it was an okay thing to do. If it was anyone else they wouldn’t have lived to see another day or at the very least have a severe ass beating. Yet since it came from her it caught him off guard. He chuckled slightly as he remembered exactly what she said before losing that slight smile and turning it into a scowl. He sort of understood how she lived for so long it was her wittiness and her genuinity. She means exactly what she says but not always how she says it. He didn’t appreciate it when Tabby straight up told him that he wouldn’t be a good leader and as much as he hated it with her ancedote it made sense to him why she would think that. He also didn’t like the fact that even though she was dead on with him and Masky despite not knowing a thing that happened between them. She was a lot more perceptive than she let on and used her parallels between her parents and her and her best friend to understand. It’s true you only get one. Tabby lost everything and he was lucky that he still had his best friend not many people can say that.No matter how strained they were or what they’ve done to each other that’s still his best friend right there. He really should appreciate him more and he knew that.  She didn’t want him to go through what she went through and live to regret it. Yet he still felt hurt and betrayed by Tim although he can’t remember why. All he knows that he didn’t want to find out and he wasn’t ready to forgive. Maybe he didn’t even want to because the pain of the truth might be greater than anything he could imagine.

Oh great now he had a headache forming at trying to figure this shit out. This always happened when he tried to figure out things between him and Masky. He hated it. He grumbled as he parked the car and got out with his head held low and his hands in his pockets to the grocery store.

He hated the fact that Tabby was right.

EJ was in the basement organizing his medical equipment. Usually, for missions three months or longer, they would send a medic with whatever group was doing the mission just in case anything happened and they can’t go to a human hospital it would put the group and the entire mission at risk. He finally had the time to set everything up as it was quiet in the house surprisingly. No Toby being rambunctious, no noises from Masky and Hoodie just existing, no Tabby and Hoodie arguing constantly, and no Tabby pulling stupid shit to hurt herself for purposes that she didn’t even know. 

Just how he likes it.

He was still annoyed with Tabby and the little stunt that she pulled. Mali were creatures that held grudges for eternity. She had no idea just how grateful she should be living in a house full of people who could instantly kill her but choose not to. He didn’t understand why they didn’t just kill her off the night that the boys met her.

No scratch that he knew why and it was because of Toby.

From his understanding, It was Toby’s idea to spare her from what Masky told him. Of course, Masky was the only responsible one in his opinion for trying to do his job right. But Toby was persistent and then it was Hoodie’s idea to bring her here and let the Slenderman decide. Hoodie of all people! Then Slenderman chose to let her live simply because she amused him by not begging for her life and daring to take responsibility for the group even though they were of a higher standard than her. Pretty fucking stupid on her part if you ask him.

EJ scoffed. Although Mali and the Slenderman have a very neutral co-existence he can’t help but think that the Slenderman could use better criteria to let someone live and become a proxy. Even if his reasoning for Tabby could make anyone feel small and insignificant being a proxy was not an easy thing. Even the proxies had their drawbacks. They’re not human but they looked like them and sometimes acted like them. Which infuriates him to no end as that creates inefficient killers on their end.

Yet EJ sort of understood why Tabby was kept alive. She was smart to him. She understood the world around her for what it was. She held some sort of wisdom in there and she could quickly adapt to her environment. He understood that from an animal standpoint only the strongest and smartest makes it out alive.

He also understood that she couldn’t be food much to his dismay.

  EJ found it very interesting the way Tabby spoke to him. She considered him an equal. He would be lying if he didn’t say that it felt refreshing to be talked to instead of being held at a distance and being talked to as separate but equal. Didn’t she know the dangers of blending the lines between monsters and humans? Foolish girl.

He didn’t know if being treated like an equal meant that he was less than her to be brought down on her level or if she was greater than him to be brought up to his level to be able to talk to him.

How did she word it? She treats and talks to others like people. Not humans but people.

Yeah, the concept was still very confusing for him. 

He appreciated the sentiment though. With her saying that proxies are neither monsters nor humans but their own thing entirely. Mali were neither monsters nor proxies but their own thing entirely. He never looked at it that way before. She claimed to not be a proxy either. She was neither proxy nor human but what she called a Rosewood kid. He felt like he was playing along with a little kid being naive and hopeful about their ideals and how they believe in their hearts of hearts that they are right and should be the way of the world.

If anyone knew that was bullshit it was him.

He went back to being annoyed with her for that little stunt she pulled. So much blood coming from her and all for what because she didn’t want to be here? Looking back on it now she was trying to explain why she did it but he didn’t want to hear it. There were no excuses to him. After all they have done to keep her dumbass alive and she had the gall to pull that. Uh-uh hell no. He was going to have to scare her straight to keep her alive. Its not that he cared he just didn’t want to deal with the drama and the pain in ass death of her body. Too much work on his part. But most of all he believed that she was stronger than that. He was disappointed to be proven wrong. However the good news was that she hasn’t done it again since even though she hasn’t had much of an opportunity to.

He slammed his medical cabinet shut.

He wasn’t sorry for what he did.