#High Roller is always trying to chat with Chip but Chip just wants to be left alone

[imagionary]

high roller time

I love him, he's so hard to draw xD

I'll get the hang of drawing him one day!

[trulymadlysydney]

1/?? Ok long anon remember when I did that one with you being on Harry’s team as a songwriter/musician/etc.,? and he like to come over to your apartment sometimes when he’s a little drunk and you smoke, work on music, drink some more, anything really you just like each other’s company (the one where you both fall asleep on the couch)? This one has a song to go with it So Good by Warpaint: https://youtu.be/sDDY_LJ7ZUk

Ok so, maybe it’s been a month or so after that, you and Harry have gotten a bit more closer. You were hesitant at first with whatever it is you have going on between you too and you laugh a little at how innocent it’s been between you too. You hold hands a lot more often now, sleep wrapped around each other, and he’s even more open with his affection now when it’s the two of you and close friends. His arm around your shoulder at the table when you’re over someone’s house for drinks, he kisses your cheek as your both chatting with friends, letting you know that he’s going to go talk to someone who just walked in. You talk a lot more animated when he comes over to work on music. And Harry’s eyes lit up a little bit brighter when you do that little snort when you laugh at something he says. He’s a lot more open with you on discussing the background to his lyrics and just how he’s feeling in general. You now spend a lot more time at his place (calling you to ask if you’d like to come over, “Harry it’s 1am, I’m seeing you again in literally 8 hrs from now, which would go by faster for the both of us if we were asleep.” “I know, I know, but I just got sent a new guitar I’m dying to show you and I have those special chips you like. You know the ones you had when we were in Stockholm for a show that are so hard to find?” “Well I guess I can’t say no to that” “Good :) the car should be outside your place in 5 minutes. Can’t wait to see you, bye :)”)

Oh, and yeah you two make out like horny teenagers and touch each other, but that’s really as far as you’ve both gone. You have yet to actually sleep with each other. And since you both haven’t put a label on anything, you’re just taking things as they come. And it’s not like you’ve both signed an oath of abstinence, you both are just so caught up in your own head over messing this up that you avoid /that/conversation. So yeah, maybe it’s midday, you’ve been over at Harry’s space after spending the night. And despite his home having luxurious amenities such as the softest couch you’ve ever sat on, you’ve both ended up where you’re most comfortable: the floor again. And you both end u sharing a joint and listening to music. You’ve both dragged pillows and blankets to the floor where you’re both laying now. Maybe he’s lounging in just some pants with his body angled so it’s like he’s reclining with his shoulders pressed to the bottom of the couch and you’re laying your head propped up against a mountain of pillows facing him, legs propped a little against the seat of the sofa, a pair of his sweat shorts hanging off your hips. And you’re just chatting, conversing about songs playing, leaning over to pass the joint to one another. You reach over and flick his foot and crack a joke about the BIG tattoo on his toe. He pokes at your belly, and asks you about the little scar on your torso right underneath the hem of your bralette, the one you got when you decided you wanted to learn how to roller-skate one summer. And maybe it’s the weed, but you’re using this opportunity to touch each other. Your fingers move to the Never Gonna Dance Again tats along his ankles, his move to discover the tiny smiley face tatted onto your side. And it’s gotten a little quiet, a bit more tense and So Good by Warpaint is playing (https://youtu.be/sDDY_LJ7ZUk). And you’re looking up at the ceiling taking an inhale of whats left of the joint as “I want you all over me, Can't you tell me all your secrets?” plays when you feel the flutter of the fabric of the shorts, as you catch Harry, focused intently as he glides the fingers of one of his hands under the hem at your thigh. And as if he can feel you watching, he looks over to you, you’re propped up a little more staring at him.

2/ ?? Nothing seems to be moving except the smoke from the joint and your stomach visibly rising with your breathing. And his lips purse a little in a near grin, because he’s been caught but he wanted to be. And your lips purse a little too and you both break eye contact, his fingers still playing with the skin at your thigh, your head leaning back back into the pillows as you laugh up at the ceiling as “I want you, open wide Can't you tell me all your secrets? I’ll tell you all mine.” is sung. And Harry’s fingers have moved to trail up the length of legs going from mid calf to just under your shorts back and forth, watching goosebumps form and the little shiver move through you. And that’s when you get the idea, and you sit up, Harry’s eyes going to your face as you scooch up close to him, his legs parting around you so you can sit on your knees facing him. And you hold the joint to your lips, his eyes moving from yours to the joint between your plump lips as you inhale, and you set the joint in the ashtray and quickly wrap your hands around his neck to pull yourself to his mouth so that you can shotgun. His hands moving to hold into your sides to inhale as you exhale. You break away from his mouth, the both of you staring at each other as he lets the smoke back out. Your hands playing with the curls at the nape of his neck, his hands now resting on the waistband of your shorts as you both move in to kiss each other as “so good, so good, so good” plays in the background. And you’re both breathing so heavy and kissing is just so much more intense when you’re both high. And you move one of your hands to drag one of his hands at your hem, to push your shorts down. And Harry gets the hint, and removes his hands quickly as he lifts his hips up off the floor a little to slide his pants down. Your hands gone to push your top off, you struggle a little, both laughing as Harry helps you pull it off over your head and toss it somewhere in the room. And Harry says “wait” and you’re confused at first las he, pushes you to stand as he rises off the floor to sit back on the couch and pull you on top of him and go “much better” and you’re making out, he’s kissing all over your chest, you’re working your hand between his legs, as “you’re good, you’re good, I’m handling it” plays, when you realize something. Moving your hand away from him, kissing him to say “hold on” and going to your purse on one of the coffee tables to pull out a condom. Flashing the wrapper to him, you’ve walked back over, tearing the foil open and rolling it onto the length of him.

3/3 And Harry is grabbing both your hands, kissing each of them before you go to place them onto his shoulders, looking back into your half-closed from the high, eyes. Harry’s fingers moving between you now to work you up more and you’re whining, saying his name in broken pants into his mouth as he asks “you okay, love?” And you’re frantically nodding as you move your hips right above him to take him in. The both of your mouths, parting in a caught moans as you move to adjust to him. With your eyes closed and head falling back onto your neck, and Harry thinks this is what heaven looks like, right now between his lap. Harry’s guiding you with a hand at your hips, as you rock into him. And when he notices that you’re struggling a little, maybe he pulls you underneath him. So that you’re laying on the couch, and he’s pulled one of the discarded pillows from the floor to prop underneath your hips for your extra comfort, as he pushes himself back inside you. And it’s all intense but so good. So so good. And he’s praising you, telling you how he’s wanted to do this with you for so long. And he can’t believe you’re with him like this right now. And you moan so pretty. And he likes the way your mouth twitches a little when it doesn’t know if it wants to whine or gasp. And his lips are so swollen and pink. And his Adam’s apple is enticing as he swallows. And he’s sounds just as beautiful now when he’s in the throes of it all, as when he sings. But now, your playlist has ended long time ago, and it’s like that night again, except the couch is big enough for him spoon you with his knees pushing into the back of yours. You’re between pillow talks, flipping yourself over to kiss some more before finally settling down, his face in your hair as you hear his low snores. And you’re playing with his hand that’s wrapped around yours, and the blanket laying on top of the both of you smells like him so you feel like he’s entirely wrapped around you, and unlike that night before, you realize that there’s nothing to worry about nothing to try to escape from. And as if Harry can hear your thoughts, you feel him squeeze your hand, and a kiss into your head as he grumbles “are you comfortable?” And you pull your latched hands up to kiss the back of his and say “yeah Harry, I am” and you can feel him smile as he says “sleep for a little” and he presses another kiss, and you do. Realizing something that has always been there, even during that one night, that everything is just so easy. It’s all just lighter when you’re with him.

Ok bestie, I thought this was cute could have been better but it’s so soft and I just had to get it out lol

———

Bestie….. how do you manage to hurt me EVERY time oh my god 😭

[alias-b]

sins of my youth. 020

Billy Hargrove x OC! Evie Fenny~ Also posted to my AO3

Summary: It was common knowledge that Billy Hargrove hated Hawkins. Hated Cherry Lane. Even loathed the strange girl next door. Evie Fenny wasn’t too fond of the chaotic Cali transfer either. An awful high school tradition sparks a chain of events that changes everything, ultimately bringing two frayed souls together.

A/N: Hello everyone. Thanks for clicking in to read. Billy and Evie continue to explore their new relationship together. Max's fourteenth birthday party marks a change for the teens, reminding them that danger isn't too far off. TW: Neil being Neil. Mentions of abuse. Something close to an almost assault/abduction off screen near the end. Light mentions of Pica & fatphobia. Sexual themes

***My tag list is wide open, just shoot me a msg to join it! Chat with me about the chapter if you have the time! Enjoy! xoxo 

Chapter 20: Rose Tint My World

  “Hold still, I’ll poke your eye again.”

   “I can’t breathe, you’re killing me.” Came a sniffled whine.

   “Such a baby. You asked.”

   “I said I was curious after you put the gunk on my nails!”

   “That gunk was a great color on you. You whine just like your big brother.” Carol had Max’s face clamped in her grip as she applied mascara. “Don’t blink, you'll smear it.”

   “Evie, she’s killing me,” Max lamented aloud. “This is not worth it.” Evie just laughed, setting a bowl of pretzels aside. Carol flicked a mirror up to let Max see her handiwork. “Whoa...It’s not terrible.” She gruffed in a mumble, tilting her head to see each angle. "Kinda like Madonna."

   “I’ll take it.” Carol stole some M&Ms from another dish as they shared a spot on Heather’s fuzzy carpet. A movie rolled on in the corner TV.

��  Max about howled when Heather came in from the bathroom, face covered in green.

   “Monster!”

   “It’s a face-mask!” Heather planted her hands on her hips, prompting more laughter. “You’ll be more into them once your body really changes.”

   “Girls are way scarier than boys.” Max poked at her blushed cheek which had Carol smacking her hand away. Evie was draped across the bottom of the bed in her robe and nightie, half-watching the TV. “Can you do a zombie make-up?”

   Carol gave a snort.

   “I can do anything. kid.”

   “Eves, you want another piece of pizza?” Heather crossed with the box.

   “I’m so full.” Evie shook her head.

   “You had like one piece.”

   “I ate a big lunch. And lots of pretzels.” Evie snatched the pretzel bowl again for good measure. Truthfully, her appetite had been up and down lately. Mostly down. What with the pangs in her stomach that always passed and… “You sound like my mother.”

   “She was...extra peppy at the salon today. My mom and I got our monthly trim.”

   “Probably some guy she’s seeing, it’ll pass and another will come. Men are like Kleenex to her. Soft, strong, and disposable.” Evie shrugged to pluck up a magazine.

   “Hey,” Max began as Carol fussed over her, “so I didn’t want to make a thing of it, but my mom keeps insisting. My birthday party is coming. She and Neil saved so I could have it just at the roller rink and...they said I could invite whoever I wanted. But, I can’t ask the guys to come. So I figured I’d ask El. She’s really cool. But, maybe if you guys wanted to come? You can bring boys and pretend you’re not even at my party if it’s not your thing. I just-”

   “Max, we’d love to come.” Heather piped up first. “Evie and I rule the rink too.”

   “I look very cute in skates,” Carol agreed with a twitching smirk. “I'm in. I’ll bring Tommy, he sucks and he’ll fall down a bunch. We'll pretend we ran into each other so your stepdad can get the stick out of his ass.”

   “Billy has to go too cause Neil says it’s a family event.” Max turned to Evie. “I think he’d be happier with you there.”

   “I think Billy and I both are fine being there for you. I had my fourteenth at the rink too. It’ll be fun.” Evie beamed, legs up to sway idly. “Plus we haven’t met the Chief’s kid. She’s home-schooled, right?”

   “Yeah, she might be joining us in school next year.” Max stayed still for Carol’s brush. “Depends. She was uh...adopted under weird circumstances. You’ll like her. I taught her how to do that felting thing because of you and she made this funny one of her dad.”

   “I’ll bet Hopper loved that.” Evie winked. 

   “He’s kind of a babe in like a scruffy, rugged way,” Carol remarked. "Strong mountain man type."

   “Ew. He’s so old.” Max reeled back to laugh.

   “I’m just saying! I like a man in uniform. He rocks the khaki.” 

   “The moms in town do eat him up.” Heather shrugged, joining Evie on the bed with a handful of candy. “We all have our strange crushes. I like high cheek-bones. Guys with a little Bowie. Evie? You got one?”

   “Gia Carangi even if she isn’t modeling any more, I love her face.” Evie was flicking pages without looking. Howls from the TV went ignored through the chatter.

   “I called that. Fenny being into ladies. Try Iman.” Carol winked which earned her a look as if she hadn’t planted a kiss on Evie in a fit of rage.

   “People say Billy’s pretty like a girl.” Max had added which got the other girls giggling. 

   “I like this one, we’re so keeping her.” Carol got up to root for a bag of chips, popping them open. “Like the zombie face better?”

   “I still look too pretty.” Max appeared more goth than zombie.

   “You are pretty. Deal with it. We redheads stick together.” Carol stole Evie’s magazine. “Let us know when the party is, we’ll be there.”

   Max looked at the three older girls squished together on Heather’s bed. Chattering and supporting. Happy to have her around.

   A bright smile touched her face for the first time since Neil Hargrove walked into her home. 

** ** ** 

   Most days, all it felt like was floating. Floating through her house. Through Hawkins. Up and down streets. Through school. A stunning illusion she pulled like wool over her dark eyes.

   A woman in rippling silks walking endless halls toward a great, cherry red door at the end, but the door gets farther away and she's thrilled to continue on even still. Feather wings glittering to unfold from her back because heaven's light is beyond the door. Crystalline eyes with their hold. Waiting for her. The sky awaits her with caressing clouds. Opulent gold sun rays and twinkling stars when the world lies down.

   Evie knew she was too big for her wings most days. Too heavy to leave the Earth.

   Knew in her beating heart of hearts that was the first thing people think when they see her. This magnificent soul with drive and neon and talent reduced to a single shrewd glance. And they don't think twice until she's something vaguely sexual. Something marketable you can package and process and sell to the last drop.

   Easier to stomach something uncomely if you can slide into it ruthlessly to rut. They always come like animals, wailing as a banshee would to get off better than they ever will in their small lives. They eat it up. Cover it in sweat and regret and blame.

   These things that hang as little weights on her heartstrings swinging back and forth. They make her not want to attempt extending those wings to fly. Fear of heads shaking in judgement. Fear of looking uglier. More foolish for even trying. Poor thing.

   All because of one glance that couldn't be bothered to see worth in another human life. Sometimes Evie wanted to be skinny not because of beauty, but because she'd get a privilege pass to exist in this world.

   They think she shouldn't dress the way she does. She's probably lazy and self loathing because of added pounds. She has no real aspirations or means to achieve them. Those eyes that watch her eat. That shift away before they decide on another seat because the one open next to her just isn't right. They glare because of the extra room she might take up. Even sharing a few cordial words with fat girls seemed to be a task.

   Evie always notices and does the polite thing pretending she doesn't. She knows what her body looks like, no need to point out the obvious.

   Strange, how these snap judgements, these eyes that don't look twice; can villainize a body utterly. A body. Flesh, bone, and muscle. We're all made in heaven's image. All destined for paths we seek to control. Superiority should have been an illusion. But no, too much or too little, your worth dips low. Fetishes and internalized hatred for things that were shaped and colored differently. Blame.

   But, some days, when the wind soars just right...just strong enough...Evie can spread and illuminate. See the births and deaths of a million stars. Drop the little weights to feel the winds between her fingers. In her curls. In her wings. Feel her feet leave the floor for just a few fleeting seconds.

   The fleeting seconds of soaring always seem so worth it against a world of unsightly aches. Against snap judgements she can toss back to live in a flower petal haze.

   Evie tried hard to live in those moments when they flashed into her. Spotlights. Butterflies delicately landing on her flesh to open and close their stained glass wings for kisses. Evie felt crushed utterly in the most decadent way.

   Billy's soft lips on her neck to get lost in the pulse. Deft fingers that would push up her clothing as he moved in her. Eyes that wanted to see her. All of her. The prayers he could whisper against heating skin.

   A lot could be said about him. But, Billy was always happy to see her and that alone was air spinning into gold. His eyes would light up. Lips twitching. She could hear the single beat that his heart skipped. Even if they didn't speak, they felt this awareness for each other in the vicinity. Truly magic.

   Those eyes. That love of a face. Always staring pointedly to read her up and down. Always plucking the weights from her heart by listening. Always unafraid to touch her. Evie hoped she returned that. She really did.

   Fleeting seconds began to linger between them. Seeping slow and saccharine as fresh pouring honey.

   Sneaking away on walks while he let her hold his hand. Flirtation against school lockers that ended in several 'just one more' kisses. Double dates to the movies with Tommy and Carol. Sitting separately to make out.

   Driving up near Lover’s Lake to kiss in a parked Camaro while the sun laid itself down to sleep. Fumbling playfully to undress and explore. Watching the construction of a coming mall with Slurpees from the gas station. Tongues and lips colored all artificial cherry and strawberry.

   Evie would stretch her wings completely. Let Billy admire them until the world was all satin rose-tinted. She could forget her urges and worries and insecurities. All together. This was fine.

   She was fine. More then fine.

   He so liked to admire her wings. Pleasure crushed in as she moaned. Let his fingers explore contours and notches untouched before. Billy would take those prayers on his lips and drape them over her body. Spell them between fleshy thighs. Pulling more fleeting seconds for himself too.

   They could roll around under sheets and not worry about anything else. Have conversations that always felt silly and wonderful and weighted because they both mattered to someone so ardently. That alone was an ocean both could sink into.

   Something beautiful to behold. The real vision behind the great red door. Your soul mattering.

   Evie was in a bubble with Billy Hargrove. A stupid, dopey look on her face when Mona settled dinner down one evening. Steam rising from a huge pot.

   “Going out later?” Evie began to create sound or she'd be lost. "You colored your hair brown again."

   “Needed another change. Ah, I'm going out just with Karen and Claudia. Dessert and wine night. I asked Susan but that poor thing keeps standing me up. Did you finish Max’s gift for her party?” Mona scooped up huge portions in a bowl that Evie would only be prodding at.

   “Yeah, it’s set. Turned out perfect. She’s not much for jewelry but I think a personalized tie dye shirt will be fun. Might look cool while skateboarding. I also have that goody bag of sweets for her to fill up on we made.” Evie reminded herself to pick up her spoon. Took a few bites.

   “You’re not scarfing it down like usual, you love my crawfish soup.”

   “It’s delicious, I just had a big lunch.” A lie. Evie pressed herself to eat quicker, tearing a piece of fresh bread to chew. Thing was, she wanted to eat. She wanted to eat so badly despite the sickness welling inside her. The heavy ache made it a task. Mona eyed her daughter there. “My stomach's in knots a lot, just school stuff.” 

   “Well, you are a senior.” Mona pushed her own soup around. “I haven’t been around as much as I’d like to be. Just the salon and I met-”

   “I get it.” Evie’s lips spread in a flash, not wanting her mother to finish that sentence. “I’m with friends a lot and I keep busy with my music and the cat. I even wrote a new song.”

   “That’s two this week, you. Strumming along blissfully.” Mona gushed. “Whatever has you all creative and dewy, chase it.” Silverware clicked around and Evie stared at her dish. A broader smile crossed.

   "I will."

   “What’s it called?”

   “Ocean Eyes.” 

   Evie could be pretty transparent in the early stages of a relationship.

   These short weeks in with Billy. Lyrics flooded free. Sometimes he liked to watch her write and strum when they hung out. Trips to the lounge where she worked other nights got him a full show, but not of her original stuff. Songs marched forth.

   “Ocean Eyes.”

   “Cupid and Psyche.”

   “Honey Stardust.”

   “Neon-Tinted Hearts.”

   Rock. Pop. Lush and obscene with her glowing heartstrings. She wrote them for Fredrick too when they got together.

   “Doll Joints.”

   “Lollipop Lolita.”

   “Prince Charming.”

   After dinner, Evie stole a notebook filled with her every sinful lyrical confession of her time with Fredrick Bowers. Burnt it in an empty pot out back until Billy wandered out the back steps of his place. Asking her if she was trying to set the neighborhood on fire.

   “How can I help?” He’d snarked while the sky went all pretty peach fuzz. Evie just laughed and never explained what she’d burnt or why it felt this cathartic to watch the smoke rise toward a falling sun. She figured maybe this was the day she'd stop eating foreign and sharp objects. She could do it. She was happier. Lighter. It had to stop.

   It had to. She couldn't think about this haze shattering, it hurt too deep.

   Billy used the flame to light his cigarette comically and kissed her before inhaling the smoke. 

   “Can we take a drive? Or walk if you’re low on gas?”

   “Let’s walk, I got some cash doing my odd jobs for the damn neighbors, but I need it to last a bit longer with Max’s birthday. Got her this new board she was too chickenshit to beg our parents for.”

   “Aren’t you a darling big brother?” Evie crossed her arms to follow him when the flame dwindled low. They went around the house to the front, started down the street. “Iris has some hours for me that next Saturday night.”

   “You going to tell your mom about the secret job thing?” Billy inhaled and let smoke billow up into the afternoon light. They walked along Cherry Lane. Not touching. Counting steps while their shadows cast and the streetlights came up. A brisk night loomed, spring begging to creep through the month of March. 

   “I figured I could this summer. Around graduation. Just say I got something bigger since I’m eighteen and Iris can get me steadier hours. Gigs day or night. Maybe I’ll get to host a couple more drag shows. I miss those damn girls, the funniest performers know. I'll just let my mom down easy about the receptionist thing, hopefully she’s fine with it. Make it sound like I took initiative cause I'm a big girl.” 

   “And your grand singer plans?” He liked to ask about her and hang upon the syllables.

   “Still up in the air. I’m taking the year off to work and write. Try for a talent agent or manager. I can record maybe...try to get airtime. There’s this contest thing, they do it every year and the winners always do well. But, I’m honestly too afraid to ask my mom about it just yet. I’m saving though here and there.” Evie beamed. “You? Summer and on.”

   She was clearly asking if he was sticking around for summer. 

   “Odd lawn, house, and car jobs are getting me by. This whole street is a mess and the moms in town like to watch me work."

   "Yikes." 

   "It means better pay and tips. I’m taking Heather up on her lifeguard offer this summer. I'll save up, Dad's already going to be asking for rent when I graduate."

   "Shit."

   "Yeah. Don’t wanna bank on that mall they’re opening with all the other little shits trying to get jobs first.” Billy leaned back to let the cooler air kiss his face, sighing before he tossed his smoke out. 

   Evie came to the end of the street near the forest, swayed around a streetlamp like she was in an old Hollywood flick. Dreaming long and endless. Sometimes she worried so often that she wasn't living. Just dreaming it all away. Maybe a center line was possible.

   Maybe she'd be able to soar over it all.

   Billy waited for her to swing back around it before he pressed into her for a slow, lingering kiss. Even better, maybe they both were sharing a dream. Making it of something stronger.

   “So, how am I doing?” He joked lighter. Evie gripped the lamp to stay level, head tilting. “Two weeks in, almost three. This whole situation.”

   “Situation.” Evie mused, slyly hiding half her face behind the lamp to hum. The shadowy starlet of a femme fatale she loved to watch on television with her mother. Glinting. Dangerous. "This whole situation?" She lingered to sigh it even slower.

   "You and me." He'd sounded out, drawing nearer. "Us..." Evangeline, always the playful nymph, flitted off playfully. Spinning the other way to walk along so Billy came to her side easily.

   “I think you’re doing fine." She tapped her chin. "What about me? Evaluate my performance.” 

   “Ah. In a sea of slithery tadpoles, you’re a goddamn firecracker.” He’d laughed and Evie followed, covering her lips with one hand.

   “I don’t know how any of that correlates or makes sense, but I’ll take it.”

   “Neither do I. Just made it up to see you do that. The scrunchy thing you do when you’re too happy or upset with me.” Billy’s nose crinkled as he grinned there. Evie came up to peck his freckles.

   “You’re a total sap, Hargrove.” Evie continued, hands clasped behind her back before she inhaled the air. “Let’s hit that mini mart nearby. I’m craving a Dr. Pepper. Buy you a soda. It’s my turn.”

   “No, it isn’t. You’re just being too nice again,” Billy remarked, feet shifting slower as they crossed the street. “I can’t take you fancy places.”

   “I don’t need to go to fancy places, I just like hanging out with you wherever.” Evie turned her head to see him. “We’re both poor, we make due. Summer will be better. We can just work and...figure this out. I like it right now though, so don’t worry because I know how you shiver in those boots.”

   She pondered it.

   “Do you like it?” Evie offered quieter, earning Billy’s eyes searching her expression. Lip twitching, he tossed his arm around her. Brought Evie taut into his frame with an easier grin so they could keep walking toward the whirling, illuminated sign in the distance.

   “Yeah, I like it.” He decided. “I like you plenty. What's not to like, Evangeline?” His free hand gestured out and Evie beamed to point at that darling face. Her Eros. Encouraging her wings to unfold without pressure.

   "Wow, you're getting better and better at that." A beat. "Making me blush without rolling my eyes."

   "Please, Angel, your knees quiver every time I hit you with this smile. You might as well toss off the panties for me." For good measure, he flashed it and Evie hid from his absolute burning charm. Cheeks felt that fire bloom and billow.

    A car hurried past them. Sweeping budding flowers and loose leaves about. Delicate, they danced. Trees wobbled back and forth to the wind picking up. Evie stayed looking away to smile that time. Knew this wind would carry her easily.

   "Did you have a best friend back in California?" She moved her arm around his back as they went. 

   "I don't know. Guess I had a few in orbit."

   "Am I your best friend here?" She piped back up and Billy slowed to glance, chuckling.

   "I thought you and I were avoiding labels."

   "It's different." Came the protest.

   "No, it isn't." He paused. "Heather's your best friend."

   "Yeah, but I figured I could have more than one. Perfectly carved places for each." Evie shifted in front of him, hands smoothing up Billy's shoulders to clasp fingers round his neck. Blue eyes glittered to search.

   "You trying to push some admission outta me, Fenny?"

   Lashes batted with all the innocence they could hold.

   "Just admit it, Hargrove," she pulled him down for a lip lock, pecking his jaw and cheeks until he broke to laugh and hold her at bay. One brow lifted. "It'll be our dirty little secret."

   "Fine. Only cause you twisted my arm about it and it gets you hot. You are my very," he palmed her bottom to make her gasp in one motion, "very best friend. Happy?" Billy stole a kiss when she was still dumbfounded, molding their frames together.

   "Maybe I am." Evie sighed, sounding too raw and honest about it. She came out to see his eyes there. Tried to read them. Billy blinked to say something else.

   “So, you're already thinking about graduation and summer, huh? Moving quick.”

   “I’m optimistic is all. It’s a rare thing with me so I'm just enjoying it. I’m not used to happy and good.” Evie got cheeky to hide anything else, winking over her shoulder before she went inside the tiny store.

   Fluorescent lights washed out too many colorful packages. They picked cold cans of soda and bright yellow packs of Jujyfruit candies to curb a sweet craving. Billy gripped the paper bag in one fist and Evie snatched his free hand when they got outside.

   “C’mon!” She picked up the pace. “Let’s catch the bus to the other side of town.”

   “Billy Hargrove doesn’t take the bus. It’s all full.” He’d complained, still rushing after her to the stop.

   “Try something new.” Evie was giggling, tugging at him to get on.

   With the bus full of residents leaving work, they took some standing room with a group up front. Fingers curled into the handles above, swaying closer together due to the rocking and crowding. A hard turn sent Evie into Billy’s chest, her hand sprang out over his shoulder to catch the bar just above his head.

   “Trying to jump my bones in public, little Miss Fenny?” He feigned a look of awe, brows lifting playfully. His free arm slipped around the small of Evie’s back, bracing her there into his marble frame. “You know how much easier it is if you just ask, Angel?”

   Evie wanted to scoff. Wanted to scrunch that annoyed look she was known for. Wanted to send him to the floor and kiss him for miles and miles. But, she just stood there in the dim, flickering bus lights. Watched his expression relax. Not really breathing until she reminded herself. 

   Billy seemed to remember as well. At the back and forth shifting of the vehicle, they squished together. Forcing looks away to see the path again. Billy pushed his thigh further between her legs. Both of them idly rubbing together now. Evie felt the heat crawl up her cheeks, lungs tremoring. Billy’s fist holding the bag shifting a little lower on her back, firm and scalding hot. 

   She peered up at his jawline. Looked away. Felt Billy’s eyes wander back after before he flickered elsewhere. Denim pushed against denim. Billy hitched this breath as if he might whimper. Swallowed it down. Hips swaying back and forth and back again. A thumb pushed deftly into her back. Evie shifting in, lips parting. Trembling as Billy turned his head to see her centimeters from him. 

   “This is our stop.” She’d said in his ear. Leaning flush into him to pull the cord down. Billy inhaled the amber. Brushed his nose into her own while she came back out.

   “Don’t wanna stop.” His freckles looked especially glowy outlined in a rare blush. The bus skidded and Evie veered back with some amusement. Brown eyes casting Billy up and down before she skipped off in a hurry, leaving him to chase her because he’d always chase her. Bag still wrinkled around Billy’s fist, he caught up with her. Under the streetlamps surrounded by dancing moths. 

   “We near Lover’s Lake?”

   “Yeah, the park nearby. Figured some loitering would do us good.” Evie stepped across the grass and sand. Listened to the dark structures creak. “C’mon. I love the swings.” 

   She plopped back into one, legs kicking some before Billy joined her. He cracked one can of soda to offer it, feet shifting over the sand to sway closer together. Chains creaking. 

   They clicked drinks and guzzled fizz before Evie snagged the candy out. Stealing a few chewy pieces. The bright box got passed back and forth during a comfortable silence. Billy watched Evie as she observed the moon there. 

   “Do you know any constellations?” She’d asked quieter, forcing him out of the daze. Curls caught the illumination with stars dotting her dark eyes. 

   “Not really.” He took the candy back as she swallowed a piece.

   “You see that crooked line? Those four little guys, they call that...Salem’s Lot. And...” Evie touched her lips, pointing again. “Those two bright boys there. Called Shawshank. Oh, and that one-”

   “These are Stephen King references.” He pushed her.

   “No, I’m very smart and they’re real-life constellations. Listen and learn, Billy boy.”

   “So, are you gonna call that grouping, The Shining or The Overlook?” He pointed to a cluster and Evie snickered.

   “Obviously that’s Carrietta White’s Constellation. Duh. Cause it looks like a rain of blood.” Evie snorted and Billy joined her, heads pressing together as they giggled like school children.

   “You know she wears a crushed red velvet dress in the book? Not pink as seen in the movie.” Billy stretched out, finishing his soda.

   “You know she’s fat in the book, too?” Evie winked at him, eyed the trash, and tried to toss her can at it. Missing badly, it smacked the rim and fell in the sand with a clatter. “Damn it!” Billy laughed at her louder.

   “Don’t try for a career on the court, Evie.” He watched her pout as she plucked it up to throw it away properly. “Now, watch the master work.” He aimed as she sat down. One deft hand reeled back and launched it only to have Evie’s palm smack it easily the other direction. Almost falling out of her seat cackling, she got the candy pushed into her arm before he gawked and went to get it.

   “Oh,” she kept up without air, “I thought you were the master? You should have seen your face!”

   “Yeah, yeah.” He grumbled, dunking it in the can with an echoing clank. For some cheery consolation, she offered the rest of the box to him. Tiny candy pieces fell into his palm before he pushed them all into his mouth at once, eyes lifting to the sky again. Billy made a face and turned to go to push her swing. “Gimme another constellation.”

   “Hmm.” Evie held the chains, began to swing properly at his coaxing. Felt like they were in a secret garden together. Water rippling against the air distantly. Cold chill not bothering either of them. “Those two stars. The little one and the big guy. See?”

   Billy gripped the chains, keeping her swing up against him to follow the gaze

   “That’s Neverland. Second star to the right and straight on till morning.” She snickered again as Billy pushed her forward. “Bet I can beat you there. I’ll jump from the swing.”

   “You’re on.” Billy stole the seat next to her, both of them pumping higher. Curls fluttering. Laughing. Happy because they were together and that mattered.

   “I’m going to overthrow Pan and Hook. Become the most fantastic Lost Girl with a siren song to command the island and you’ll write your stories.”

   “Think so?” Billy pushed himself higher. Actually thought he might fly with Evie there.

   “Yes! You’ll tell the greatest stories ever heard through the land and they’ll echo back down here to be loved too.” She proclaimed that. Not having heard Billy’s stories, but believing what was in his heart. 

   Time slowed. Wild laughter crackled toward the sky. Utter sparks as they jumped together and collided to roll around the sand. Evie was still alight with joy under him, hair splayed everywhere as Billy snapped up to check her over, hovering. Evie’s giggling tapered off against the night air. She stared up at him. Framed in twinkling stars. He said something she didn’t catch.

   “You have beautiful eyes,” Evie sounded out slower, lost in the endless crystalline blue. “Did you mean it?”

   “Mean, what?”

   “What you said when we were lying in bed together. You said I was the best thing about this place. People never say things like that. Not to girls like me. I believed it when you said it though and it was easy too.” Evie skimmed her fingers over his jacket. Watched Billy’s eyes flicker to recall that moment and the clouds he floated upon like lily-pads in a pond.

   Billy swept down. Planted a hot kiss that was all lips. Swelled her mouth when he pulled out. He left Evie fluttered and came to her ear.

   “That was a yes.” He pushed up, eyes too sly. “By the way.” Evie took a hand when he offered one and got pulled to her feet, bodies stumbling together. They tried to brush the sand off fabric. 

   “Do you think about that night? The dance, I mean. Not...the sex. Well, I guess it’s okay to think about the sex actually.” She blushed there when Billy’s lip quirked. His fingers still wrapped around her wrist. “Before all that went down with Brock. It was-”

   “Not terrible.” He finished.

   “Not at all. The first part of the night, sometimes I wish we could go back and-”

   “Rewrite it.” Billy looked around, giving Evie a tug. He pulled her up on the metal roundabout, painted red and blue that was chipping away. “Hold on.” Another smile had curled as he braced to get it spinning.

   “Billy!” Evie jerked to hold tight to the bars. Hair flying up. Curls coiled out. Fire billowing gracefully. “What are you doing!”

   “Turning back the clock,” he charged and jumped on with her, wobbling to hold something, "to redo it.” Evie grabbed for his coat. Fisting the fabric when they locked eyes. Wind rushed in a thrill with memories tumbling together and apart. 

   Her wings sprang forth.

   Billy made Evie the still point to his turning world. For just a moment. Knew, if anything, that meeting her was something truly important. An unseen force that would twist his heart forever.

   Spinning round and round. He recalled the metallic confetti dancing and the way the music pulsed. The carousel began to slow, both teens holding the bars and each other to say level.

   Slower, Evie pecked a kiss upon his lips to mirror the first. Unable to come out far, Billy was already closing the distance for the second. Trying to pay her back with a thousand sweet kisses. 

   Cheers rang and fireworks burst. She remembered it all too. How dizzy and still the world seemed to be. How it hushed for her too sweetly. Billy’s hands on her face, cradling delicately to angle the second kiss a little deeper. They felt the metal clink to stillness under them and inched back out.

   “I want to go home with you,” Evie said the words she wished she had that night. Huge dark eyes glittering. She found his lips again. Not worried about air or what the future held for them. Lost on a rosy haze and perfectly fine for these stolen fleeting seconds. “Can we go?” Billy searched her, thumb sweeping a circle into her jaw. He smiled fully.

   “Only if we can take the bus again.”

** ** ** ** 

   “Happy Birthday!” Evie gushed, offering a gift to a small pile. Max had her arms around her before she’d gotten a chance to turn. One hand shifted to the shorter girl’s back. Music whirled with a campy light show, made the horribly patterned carpets glow. “Carol and Heather are on their way in. Tommy’s around but he won’t hang near the table.”

   “Neil’s going to be late. Work stuff.” This explained why Max’s smile was so bright. Evie nudged her chin, head cocking. “You brought your own skates.”

   “I know it’s dorky, but they’re my babies.” Evie gestured to the red skates swung over one shoulder. “Evie Fenny doesn’t rent her skates.”

   “That’s El, come meet her,” Max pulled Evie off after she got one wave at Susan behind the table setting up. “Billy’s grabbing stuff from the car. He drove us.” 

   El Hopper was a tiny thing. Almost like a little bird compared to Hopper’s hulking frame behind her. She peered around and seemed at instant ease upon seeing Max.

   “El, this is my neighbor, Evie," Max introduced them, "she’s cool.”

   El made this gesture like she had a needle and poked at her hand.

   “Yes!” Max got it, tugging Evie’s arm. “She taught me the felting thing.”

   “Hope the sharp objects weren’t a bother in your house, Chief Hopper.” Evie perked up at Jim with a sheepish expression. “I should have asked you, I know it might seem a little dangerous.”

   He actually laughed at that. If only she knew the danger these kids had gotten into prior.

   “Believe me, crafts are a welcomed change.”

   “El, nice to meet you. I’m Evie. Max talks about you all the time.” Evie held out her hand and the young girl looked shocked. “Good things.”

   A slower smile crossed. She took Evie’s hand to shake it. Awkward about her navigation but trying to take everything in. Clearly never been to a party like this one. Kids of various ages circled the floor on skates. Laughing. Holding hands. 

   “Max...talks about you too. I like your hair.” El mirrored. Peered to Hopper with a pleased expression he matched. She offered Max a wrapped gift. Evie grinned and touched her curls, pulled up into two high, rounded buns.

   “C’mon, let me show you the table they’re setting up.” Max took El’s wrist to usher her off.

   “Are you...staying to skate?” Evie turned to the Chief.

   “El’s, ah, not used to crowds. She came from some unfortunate circumstances. I’d like to stay close. First party. Maybe I’m hovering.” He pushed his hands into his pockets. Not in uniform. Evie beamed a little.

   “She’s young, you’re worried. It’s sweet, actually. You’re just being a good dad.” The smile seemed to dither in her eyes. Even when Jack was married to Mona, he wasn't always around. Work and trips kept him busy, but he stayed to close to Evie the moment he arrived home with his little gifts and endless stories. “Don’t come running over if she falls, we got her.”

   “Yeah, uh, if you could keep an eye on El when you see her around. That would mean a lot to me. I know you babysat the Henderson kid. El doesn’t need a babysitter, she’s just… This is new for her.” Jim gestured. Digging for a smoke he couldn’t have in the immediate area. 

   “Heather, Carol, and I will keep an eye out.”

   “Carol?” He chuckled. “Perkins?”

   “Oh, yeah, we made up. Funny thing.”

   “Almost as funny as you hanging out with the Hargrove boy through winter.” He quirked his brow.

   “What can I say, Chief...” Evie shrugged. “I’m...branching out.”

   As if on cue, Billy paced in a side door. Bag clutched under one arm. He caught Evie’s glance instantly. Both of them locked in and back out on cue. Blue eyes shifted up and down because she was wearing his denim jacket over a little lacy, floral top tucked into her jeans.

   Neil would arrive and they had an act to keep up. Ignoring each other.

   “I’ll sit far." Jim offered. "Pretend I’m not here.”

   She about cackled, lost in thought still.

   “I’ll just pretend you’re my real dad,” Evie winced at herself, saw him pause with some subtle awe, “oof, I’m not sure where that came from. Ouch. Okay. Walking away now. Sorry, Chief.”

   “Evie.” He eased a gentle hand toward her. “What I said. If there’s...anything going on. You can talk to me. On or off the record.”

   “Yeap. Right. I’m okay. I’m...I’m gonna...skate. Yeah. Sorry. Oh, my…” Evie whirled to hurry off, cringing all the way to the table. “I think I just had a mental break.”

   “What?” Heather had chuckled.

   “Nothing. Time to skate?” Came Evie’s begging. Agreement followed.

   Hopper made himself scarce with a cigarette and plate of cheese fries in the corner. Billy plopped himself into a chair behind the decorated table, looking disinterested. Not catching Evie’s eyes while she sat with the girls to put her skates on. Just watched Susan set out plates for pizza and cake. 

   Evie went out with Heather first for a lap, both of them giggling and pulling little stunts to show off for Tommy who was on the ground as Carol pulled at him. Max jumped over his leg, cackling before she tried to get El to come out with them. 

   “Kinda reminds me of us. They’re too cute.” Heather quipped, whirling to skate backward. They joined the younger girls, hoping to get El relaxed and away from the wall she seemed to cling to. Every turn, Evie shot Billy a look. Got his lips quirking before he ruefully was peering away. 

   “Do you want to skate, Billy?” Susan had asked after a beat, weary of the music already. Bit of a glittery disco mess. That same dreamy rose haze in the air.

   “About as much as I want to give my old man a sponge bath, Susan.” Billy frowned for effect and dropped it when she actually laughed at him. It was an easier thing for them to talk without Neil’s shadow. 

   “Well, the offer is open if you want to.” Susan thought to tell him Evie looked beautiful today when she caught him staring at her for the third time but decided not to be obvious. Not yet. 

   “You’re supposed to tell me I’m being inappropriate and I’m going to send your only daughter down with me.” He recited easily.

   “I was your age once, Billy, I know how to laugh still.” Susan seemed surprised at the revelation herself. Slowly, she took a seat next to him. Not leaving another chair as a buffer like she usually did. “It might not be so bad. Her following you, you know, after this. When she’s older. She still looks up to you.”

   It became clear what Susan was asking him. Max would resent her one day down the line. For the choices she made. The things she couldn’t stop no matter how hard she tried. Maybe Billy and Max didn’t always get along, but he’d be a safer place for her than whatever was leftover in that house. Susan would always be under Neil Hargrove, but she could ensure her daughter would not be. One day.

   Billy leaned forward on his elbows, palms rubbing. He felt for his ring and remembered it was hidden under Evie’s dipping sweetheart neckline. He didn’t say anything, but met Susan’s eyes.

   “Evie’s been a good friend to her.” Susan crossed her legs and sat back to watch the girls laugh. Slowly easing into the conversation. El wobbled, holding hands with Max and Evie to gain some speed. Heather was trying to help Carol steady poor Tommy. “Don’t you think so?”

   “I haven’t noticed.” Billy turned his head aside.

   “She’s very pretty. Kind. That’s all I’m saying. She and her mother, they’re nice neighbors to have on Cherry.”

   “Jesus, Susan, why don’t you date them both?” Billy shot up to go to the snack counter. Susan ghosted this smile after him, hands clasping. “Cheese fries. Jalapenos...Extra jalapenos.” He got his plate and turned to see Chief Hopper’s cigarette glow red. “You got any more of those? My pack is out and they don't have a machine in this joint.”

   Jim just eyed him.

   “I’m legal.” Billy puffed before a stick flicked across the table. “Camels. Unfiltered. Disgusting. Are you a flannel hobo of some kind with those?”

   The Chief gawked at him.

   “Don’t you smoke Reds? Baby’s first cigarette.”

   Billy matched him. Offended.

   “I’m smoking with the big boys, Hop. You should try it.”

   “You in a place to complain, kid?” Jim reached to take it back before Billy swiped, lighting up to puff. 

   “No, sir.” His lighter snapped shut. “You unable to cut the cord or is dressing like a lumberjack to hang out at a 70s roller disco a hobby?”

   “Haven’t seen you down at the station in a while. Few months, in fact. Turning over a new leaf this year?” Jim remarked instead, leaning forward on his elbows.

   “Aw. You miss me or something? Your boys finally get tired of chasing me down? Or trying to.” Billy gave this comedic pout, head turning to eye Evie again. Graceful swan that she was out there. His jacket hanging off her shoulders, exposing that neck. Little wisps of curls swayed about from her space buns decorated with matching glittery star barrettes, loose hair framing her face. Brown eyes flicked up and he snatched his gaze away. “Guess I found something else to get into that isn’t trouble. You guys bore me down there, I like to be amused.”

   “The real crime-stopper, boredom. Color me impressed and shocked.” Jim seemed to like that, eyes rolling. Billy puffed and swept a piece of tobacco from his mouth. “I guess whatever you’re doing, keep it up.” He watched Billy crunch on some salty jalapenos, plucking five gooey fries at once to swallow them down. Almost starved.

   “I intend to.” Billy flicked his greasy fingers to his brow. “Chief.”

   “William.” 

   Billy mumbled as he went off, finishing the smoke to flick it out a back door. Eyes shifting to watch the girls plus poor Tommy. El was already better than him.

   “Man, I’m dying out here. Help me. I’ll tag you in.” Tommy scrambled up the sidewall and clung, out of breath. Freckles all dewy.

   “You wanted to be a good boyfriend,” Billy cackled for good measure, "that'll teach you."

   “Feed me a fry,” Tommy begged over the barrier.

   “Fuck out of here, they’re mine. My dad will show soon so you can disappear to a corner and get your own damn fries.” To make it a point, Billy stood there and fed himself.

   Behind Tommy, Max skidded and fell with Evie barely catching her. Both girls had gone down in a fit of giggling.

   “We’re fine, go on!” Max waved to Heather and El ahead of them. Carol came to steal Tommy back as Billy craned to see his step-sister.

   “You alright?” Evie was picking her up when Max’s shirt slipped closer to her pale shoulder, flashing a burst of purple there the size of a softball. “Oh, my god.” It slipped out before she could stop it.

   “That’s-!” Max cut herself off and fixed her shirt. Spring was creeping and all she donned was long-sleeved and frumpy. Dressing almost like Susan. “I fell, you know, on my board.” Evie tried to give her the dignity of a look that said she believed it. Must have cracked. “Evie, it’s nothing. Don’t worry. Please.”

   Dressing like Susan. Sounding like Billy.

   “Max, my house is-”

   “I know, but don’t… Don’t say anything. Not to Billy or my mom, ah… Neil’s here.” Max put her head down and skated around Evie to go away. 

   There was something particularly helpless about watching a young girl flee obediently to her monster. Evie wondered if this was what she looked like to Billy headed to Fredrick's place.

   Small. Scared. Lost.

   Neil Hargrove started with words. Lots of horrible words that whittled Max down to a hard pit. Then pushing. Then some grabbing. Then shoving. Into walls mostly.

   The hit didn’t bruise Max. It was more of a swipe to make her go to her room for talking back. Whatever that meant to Neil. But, he was drunk and he caught her jaw with an open palm. That stayed red for the day until she snuck a pack of frozen peas, not wanting Susan or Billy to know.

   But, the swipe sent her into the dining room table. Left the violet petals bursting under her skin. Evie lost the urge to skate and came out. Saw Billy’s eyes again and paused to help Heather usher El out for food. 

   “You’re a natural.” Evie complimented which earned a full smile. El opened her mouth to speak before Billy appeared in front of them.

   “They’re making us sing.” He cocked his head, peering at El. “You’re the one with the funny name, aren’t you?”

   “Jane. But,” she seemed to have trouble staring at him for more than three extended seconds and pointed to her chest, “El.” Red crept across her cheeks. Billy towered over her, cocking a wider grin to play up the fact that she was all blushy for a pretty older boy.

   “El?” He raised one brow. “What’s the L stand for?”

   “Ignore him.” Heather pulled the younger girl around Billy as he chuckled, pausing to see Evie. Her colorless expression.

   “You okay?” He said it hard with a furrowed brow.

   “Fine.” She tried to make it sound cold but it came out near silent. Head turned down as she flitted around him to join the party.

   Neil, stiff and stoic, pressing his lips like he was at the damn DMV. Susan plastered a broader grin to dote on him after his long day, lingering close to his side as they set out pizza and readied the cake.

   It was all so routine. Like getting your shots. 

   Pizza. Sing. Candles. Wish. Cake. Gifts. Thank you.

   Billy and Evie took the farthest seats from each other. Played a game of glance and ignore that they’d made up on the spot. They both were either losing or winning.

   “Strange,” Neil remarked as he pulled Max aside for another slice. “You and the high school girls.”

   “Oh, I invited El too, she’s my age. I didn’t want to leave Evie out and the girls...they’re nice to me.”

   “They don’t dress like nice girls.”

   Heather and Carol both donned perfectly normal tees and jeans. Nothing would suffice for Neil Hargrove. Max shifted her cake around. No longer hungry for it.

   “Maybe we’ll talk about the type of girl you should hang around at a later time. The Fenny girl is nice enough, even if her shirt is a little too...low. Dresses kinda tight. Bit of an odd one. She’s different. Her friends, well...I’m just not sure, Maxine.”

   “Yes, sir.” She looked at her birthday cake like it was infested with worms. Carefully forced a bite and set it aside. 

   Max hung around. Smiled and thanked everyone after each birthday present. Even hugged Neil only cause he opened his arms at her. She said bye to El then Heather. Carol seemed to be turning in as well so Tommy went out back to get the car. 

   As the party went on and dwindled, Evie caught Billy’s eyes gesturing to the rental counter. He slipped around the corner into the many shelves and Evie turned back to see Max and Susan at the table. Neil seated in a chair not helping them clean up, eyes elsewhere. Casually, she skated around and got her arm snatched. A gasp snuffed against a pair of lips. Kisses hidden away from the world. 

   “Paid the kid a few coins and a threat to leave for ten minutes."

   Music vibrated the shelves. Evie put her arms around Billy.

   “I still have skates on.”

   “Even better. I might have a thing for girls in red skates.” Billy was all hands, holding Evie steady. Pulling one leg around his hip. Pushing denim into denim. Hot friction might have done her in any other day.

   “We are not hooking up with all the smelly rental skates.” Evie laughed into his lips, still pecking back and peering over her shoulder. She paused to see his eyes. Wanted to blurt what she’d seen on Max’s body. Even to Billy now, it felt wrong. So, she said something else.

   “Hey, we should…keep an eye on your sister, you know. It’s her birthday. She’s...She needs her big brother.”

   Billy huffed into her neck.

   “Fine, fine, but you’ll regret not taking the adventure on here.”

   “Yeah, I’m sure.” Evie shifted. “My feet hurt and we can make-out in my bed later.” She kissed his neck. “I’ll do that thing you like if you promise you went easy on the product down there.”

   “Only dotted the gold crown. Scout’s honor.” Billy winked and she rolled her eyes. He peered out first. “Give it a second then follow.”

   “Wait.” Evie thumbed her red lipstick from his mouth. “Now, shoo.” Billy licked his lips and snuck out. She waited a moment. Let the happy butterflies land in her stomach then followed. Pausing, her skates came off for more comfortable tennis shoes.

   “Evangeline, do you need a ride home with us later?” Neil had asked. 

   “No, thank you, I was getting a ride with Carol now.” She smiled and looked for red hair to say her goodbyes. “Where’d Max go?” Evie collected her coat and Susan paused to peer around.

   “She was here a second ago. Neil?” Hands dropped a stack of plates into the trash.

   “Probably went to the bathroom.” He shrugged, squinting at all the moving lights that were making his head pound. “Billy, go find your sister.” 

   Billy seemed to notice the look on Evie’s face and feel the same chill before he hurried off without fighting. Susan looked through the sea of kids and teens meandering as Evie passed her to check the ajar side door. 

   "Max!" The one flickering light at the exit made her skin crawl. A cry echoed distantly followed by a dull crash in the dark. Like a bag of trash hitting the dumpster.

   Evie dropped her skates to follow the hollowed-out sound. Exhaust swept up her nose and tires gave a harsh wail, horns sounding while a faraway car disappeared around a row of trees to get to the main street with the rest. 

   “Max!” Evie charged out. Heart painfully thudding within her ribs. 

   “Evie?” Carol heard her and footsteps echoed around the building.

   “Max!” Evie was near tears now. A shift in some fallen trash bags made her pause when two sneakers appeared around the side of the dumpster. This odd scratching sound left her lips. Evie threw herself over the tiny body there, turned Max’s limp frame over. 

   Her shirt collar was ripped open where someone grabbed her. Or tried to. Dragging then dropping her when she put up a fight. Bleeding scrapes and dirt scuffed all over her pale freckled skin from the rough tumble. Carol got to them first and pulled off her sweater to cover Max’s torso while Evie gathered her up. 

   “Help!” Carol called because Evie couldn’t. More bodies arrived. Tommy. Susan. Billy. Neil. 

   “Neil, she won’t wake up.” Susan pulled her daughter out of Evie’s arms, shaking her. Moans filtered out, but nothing else. “What happened?”

   “I don’t know. I saw...a car. It was too dark. I just found her here on the ground. Someone tried to...” Evie wheezed out and never finished, gesturing aimlessly. 

   “Susan, give Maxine to Billy. She needs a hospital.” Neil swept down as Billy urged his sister’s tiny body away. This hard. flamed expression on his face as if he wasn't really here.

   Max looked broken. Not real. A doll left under the bed for too long without love or cherished stories to comfort it. Evie felt the knees of her jeans soak through from the wet pavement. Too many words hit the air and Evie’s eyes dropped to where that harsh car had gone to.

   Evangeline wondered what kind of monster would grab up a little girl and throw her out into the trash.

   And why the world bore so many of that same design.

~~~~~

Mad Max :( Her story line is gonna start to push toward the front here and there with Evie's in pieces. Thanks again for following the fic, I really appreciate it! Please please leave some words if you enjoy the fic. XOXO Taglist open

TAGLIST:: @80sbxtch​ @nottherightseason @alagalaska @alongcamedolly @kellyk-chan @10blurredsmoke10 @charmed-asylum @unmistakablyunknown @lukespatterson @arkhamasylumpatient-blog1

[theyreonlynoodlesmike]

Mint-Chocolate Chip

Prompt: Cecilia and her friend go roller-blading to try to get her mind off of her ex-boyfriend. She ends up bumping into a particular brunette and his friends.

Pairing: Dwayne/OC

Rating: Teen for mild swearing.

Warnings: None

"I can't believe he broke up with you!" Her friend, Ruby said. Cecilia rolled her eyes. The whole reason she had let Ruby convince her to go to the boardwalk was to avoid the thoughts surrounding her now ex-boyfriend. It had been a week, and she still didn't want to think about it. They were rollerblading their way down the boardwalk, and Cecilia could feel the burn in her thighs already.

Cecilia hadn't rollerbladed with her friends since she started dating her boyfriend. She used to be on the roller-derby team, but her boyfriend didn't like how she would often come home with bruises or how practices took up most of her time. Or perhaps it was the body type she had to have for the sport. She was a fool to quit, and it felt good to have them back on her feet. Even if she had to take breaks every fifteen minutes.

"Well, believe it. God, was this always so hard?" She asked as she grabbed the railing. She pulled herself onto it, and Ruby stopped next to her. Ruby was arching her brow at her and shaking her head. Cecilia used to be their captain. And now she could barely skate.

"You're never gonna make it back on the Cheer-Beaters again if you can't skate down the freaking 'walk." She said, and hoisted herself up next to her. They were both wearing knee pads and elbow pads, but they both ditched their helmets. It was the boardwalk, not playoffs. Ruby was wearing her team uniform, as all she did was eat, sleep, and breathe roller-derby. Cecilia had once been the same, but she ditched the red and white mock-cheerleading uniform for a pair of denim shorts and a yellow short-sleeved crop top. She wore her old red and white knee-high socks, but mainly so the knee-pads wouldn't chafe her skin. "I mean, what happened to Cece Cut-Throat?" She said, and Cecilia rolled her eyes. No one had called her that in almost a year.

"Cece Cut-Throat retired. It's Cecilia now." She said. The only thing she had to reminisce from that time was their matching socks and red roller-blades. Ruby didn't seem pleased, and swung her legs on the railing.

"Lame. I miss you on the team. Remember that time you got a foul 'cause you knocked that girl off the track?" She said, and Cecilia laughed. She did remember that, and it never failed to bring a smile to her face. She ran a hand through her long brown hair and sighed.

"C'mon, race you to the end and loser buys ice-cream!" She said as she hopped off the railing. She started skating ahead, and dodged a punch from the other girl. They hooted and cheered as they moved through the crowd. Ruby was chasing Cecilia down the boardwalk, and didn't intend on letting the other girl escape her so easily.

"Out of the way!" Cecilia yelled, and the two laughed as they raced down the boardwalk. She nearly knocked into a group of boys, but she quickly dodged them and their bikes. One of them revved their engine as they passed. Even though Cecilia was rusty, she had been the captain for a reason. She was fast, and she gave a long, pleased sigh as she finished before the other girl. The two strolled down the boardwalk then, heading back where they came with cups of ice-cream in their hands now. Cecilia ate her mint ice-cream happily as they chatted.

They were passing the carousel, and Cecilia entertained the idea of riding it. Ruby was quick to interrupt her thoughts, and poked her shoulder. They had just passed a familiar group of bikers, but paid them no mind as Cecilia's attention was drawn elsewhere. Her eyes were on her ex, who was just getting off the carousel. With a girl. Cecilia felt her heart sink, and she nearly dropped her cup. Ruby wrapped an arm around her and the two stopped. Cecilia didn't mean to stare, but she just couldn't believe it. They had dated for nearly a year, and it only took a week for him to find someone new? It was heartbreaking.

Her ex wasn't the handsomest guy in the world, but he was the definition of a popular kid. He had liked Cecilia because she was different, or at least that was what he had told her. She frowned as she looked over the girl, and recognized her from the cheerleading team. It seemed that he had upgraded from a cheer-beater to a cheerleader. It made her frown, and Ruby gave her arm a squeeze.

"I mean, she's not even that pretty. You're totally hotter than her." Ruby said to comfort her, but Cecilia rolled her eyes. That wasn't why she was upset. It was then that her ex, James, saw her. She froze then, and immediately went to turn on her heel. She was going to zoom back where they had just come and escape into the crowd. She'd forgotten she was in skates, and, instead, she nearly fell.

Someone caught her before she could face-plant, and the hand holding her cup of ice-cream crashed into his chest. He steadied her, and then looked down at the mess she had made down his bare chest. She stared at the mess and quickly started,

"Oh my god. I am so sorry, I'm such a klutz-" She said, but then she looked up at his face. If she was embarrassed before, she was humiliated now. In front of her was the most handsome brunette she had ever seen, and he was glaring down at her as he held her by her arms. He had long brown hair, intense brown eyes, and a frown etched into his handsome face. Cecilia turned a bright shade of red, one that rivaled the red of her roller-blades. He sighed and said,

"You okay?" He asked, and Cecilia couldn't speak for a moment. She simply stared at him, and then her brain quickly caught up with her. Specifically, when the boys behind him started laughing.

"Yeah, yeah, yeah, I'm fine. Again, I'm so sorry. Are you okay?" She asked. She hadn't even noticed that Ruby had left her side, but she was back in record time with a handful of napkins. She offered them to the brunette, and he took them from her. Cecilia ditched the cup and threw it into a nearby trash can while the boy wiped the mess from his chest. The two girls couldn't help it. They stared. His chest was chisled and his abdomen was practically a god send. How could someone look attractive just when cleaning themselves up? Cecilia's eyes snapped back up to his when he said,

"I'm fine. Maybe don't eat and skate next time." He didn't sound happy, and Cecilia cursed herself for being so clumsy. One of the blondes, the one with the teased hair, said,

"Where's the fire, ladies?" He had a lazy grin on his face, and Cecilia looked him over. He was almost as attractive as his friend, and she quickly realized that they were all obnoxiously attractive. He was sitting on one of the bikes, and she remembered that it’d been him who revved his engine at them. She looked over her shoulder. James was laughing with his friends, and was quickly heading in their direction. She cursed herself, knowing that she'd humiliate herself further if she ran away now. Ruby was the one who supplied an answer.

"Her ex is here with a new girl and I think her fight or flight kicked in." She said, and the boys laughed. She blushed harder, and elbowed her for being so blunt about her business. They didn't even know these guys, hot or not. The brunette looked her over, and then at the quickly approaching group. It was the one with the mullet and the cigarette that spoke next.

"Is that so?" He asked, and Cecilia didn't like the way he looked at her. There was something dangerous about him, dangerous about all of them. She saw it more and more as she looked at them, and she was starting to think that maybe she'd accept the embarrassment of dashing away.

"Need assistance? We're always happy to offer our services." The angel-faced blonde said. He looked the least unassuming, but the suggestive wink he gave the girls made her think otherwise. His grin was devilish and knowing, and Cecilia didn't like it. Ruby didn't seem to see the same things she did and said,

"Maybe. C'mon, Cece, we could give him a taste of his own medicine." She said, and Ruby gave her a wide smile. Ruby had been suggesting she find a new man the entire week, that the best way to get over someone was to get under someone else, and this was a golden opportunity. Cecilia didn't have time to weigh her options, and she heard her name get called behind her.

"Cecilia!" Fuck. She thought. The brunette smiled at her, and Cecilia quickly decided then. The unnamed boy seemed to understand exactly what she was thinking. When she turned to face her ex, he threw an arm over her shoulder. She tried not to blush and instead reached to intertwine their fingers. James had jogged over her, a cocky little shit as always, with his new girl clinging to his side. He looked surprised when he saw the brunette and quickly turned his eyes back to Cecilia. "Hey, how're you doing? This is Abby." He said, and Cecilia had to stop herself from rolling her eyes.

The only reason he'd come over was to brag and to watch her squirm. Ruby looked like she wanted to knock his teeth out, and she was thankful she had roller-derby as an outlet.

"Dwayne." The boy offered, and Cecilia looked up at him with a small smile. Dwayne, huh? She thought. The name suited him, and the deep rumble of his voice made her stomach flip. He squeezed her hand lightly, and looked down at her. The intensity of his eyes made her swoon, and she'd almost forgotten that her ex was right in front of her. Dwayne reached up to caress her face, and Cecilia felt her heart flutter. She’d definitely forgotten her wariness of the group. Her ex cleared his throat. The boys behind her were doing their best not to laugh, and the platinum blonde decided to pipe up,

"Cecilia hasn't told us about you. You are?" He asked, and Ruby had to cover her mouth to stop her laugh. The blonde was obviously trying to antagonize him, and it seemed to be working.

“James.” He stated, similarly to how Dwayne had.

“Doesn’t ring any bells. Ring any bells for you, Marko?” He asked the curly haired blonde. Marko had taken Ruby’s side, and the girl definitely didn’t mind. He leaned against her shoulder, using it as an armrest as he placed his head against his hand.

“Nope. Any for you, Paul?” He asked the long-haired blonde. Paul was lighting a joint, and let out a large puff of smoke before asking,

“Wait, who are we talking about again?” And Cecilia couldn’t bite back her laughter. Especially when Dwayne looked over at the boy, and then said,

“We’re talking about James.” He had a shit-eating grin on his face, and Paul went,

“Oh.” And held it out like it was a great discovery. “Nah, none for me.” He finished, and blew the smoke into the air. When Cecilia looked back at her ex, he looked extremely annoyed. Cecilia couldn’t help but smile.

“I’m Cecilia’s ex.” He said, and his voice had lost all of it’s smugness from before. Dwayne pulled her closer then, and raised an eyebrow at the boy. He didn’t say a word, but he was playing the part of her new boyfriend fairly well. It was the platinum blonde that spoke again,

“Oh, really? Well, thanks to you, Dwayne’s got himself a girlfriend.” He said, and gave the boy a large grin. James wasn’t pleased by the news, but Cecilia didn’t care. It felt good to get him back, especially when he’d been so willing to push his new girl in her face.

“Yeah, finally.” Paul said and pushed the brunette from behind. Dwayne turned around to push him back, and Cecilia watched the two. She doubted that Dwayne actually had trouble picking up girls, but she figured he was pretty intimidating. She’d been nervous about them earlier, but they were just a group of rowdy boys. They probably didn’t mean any harm, and were even willing to help her get back at her ex. They didn’t even know her, but they’d been willing to help. After everything, they were thoroughly alright in her book.

“Really? You see her birthmark yet?” He asked, and Cecilia went bright red. He was being an asshole, and he knew it. The birthmark he was referring to was on the inside of her hip, and it was covered even by a bikini. What he was really asking was if he had seen her naked yet. Ruby shook her head and glared at the boy.

“You’re an asshole, James.” She spat, and James waved her off. Dwayne glared at him, and his arm tightened around her almost possessively. Cooly, he said,

 “No, have you?” He was being honest, and Cecilia thought that was for the best. James wasn’t afraid to stoop low enough to ask him where it was, and they didn’t need him catching their act. James gave him a smug smile.

“Plenty of times. But don’t worry, you’re not missing much.” He said, and Ruby took a step forward like she really was going to punch his teeth out. Marko seemed ready to help her. James took this as a sign to leave, and him and his new girl laughed as they quickly left. He called behind his back, “Later, Cecilia.” Their group followed behind them, and Cecilia glared at their backs as they disappeared into the crowd.

“He’s a dick.” Dwayne said flatly, and Cecilia let out a sigh.

“Understatement of the century.” She said, and then looked up at the brunette. He gave her a small smile, and reached up to touch her face again. It made her heartbeat quicken when he rubbed her cheek, and Cecilia almost fell for him right then and there. He smirked down at her, and said,

“C’mon.” Before he started pulling her away from the rest of them. He dropped his arm and opted to hold her hand instead. She held onto it with both of hers, and skated besides him.

“Where’re we going?” She asked, and turned to see Ruby give her a double thumbs up. She rolled her eyes and looked back at the brunette, who was already looking back at her. He had a small smile on his face, and gave her hand a small squeeze.

 “Ice-cream.” He simply stated, and then looked down at where she had dumped her cup. He looked back at her with a smirk. “Mint-chocolate chip, right?” He asked her, and Cecilia gave him a shy nod.

Cecilia ended up talking enough for the two of them, and Dwayne was happy to let her ramble. He’d offered her a ride on his bike, but she thought better of it. Her and Ruby went their separate ways to their homes, and she found herself dressing extra nice for their second night on the boardwalk in a row. Though, she stopped her skating when she passed the missing persons board. There, she saw a new flyer with James’ face on it.

[1soos]

tagged by @1of1orbit

i tag: no one. i have no friends on here anymore lkdsjf

rules: bold the aesthetics you relate to and add twenty of your own aesthetic qualities for others to bold

soft

baby pink | iridescent | glitter is always a good option | no bra | minimalistic tattoos | cherry patterns | sweet scented perfumes | wearing generous amounts of blush | doodling hearts | getting excited to pet an animal | fun nails | rewatching old barbie movies | hair sticking to glossed lips | heart shaped sunglasses | taking pictures of the sunset or sunrise | stuffed animals | protecting nature | stickers everywhere | teen movies | the light rain that falls from a clear sky at the beginning of the night

dark academia

neutral tones | masculine outfits | studying languages | worn down copy of books | grey skies | turtleneck sweaters | loose fitting pants | hair tied with a silk ribbon | trying to remember a cool difficult word you read somewhere to use in a convo | thick belts | minimal makeup | windows fogged by rain | vintage jewelry | blouses with cuffed sleeves | reading a murder mystery and trying to solve it | oxford style shoes | sweater vests | subtitled old movies in a language you don’t speak | leaves crackling as you walk | annotating books to express your emotions about the story

edgy

closet full of dark clothes | fishnet tights | makeup sweating off | neon signs | searching for unknown songs | chokers | band tees | doodling on old converses | finding smoking aesthetically pleasing but not doing it | weird humor | accidentally very dramatic | dim lights | layered outfits | chain belts | chipped nail polish | messy hair | low quality pics | piercings | combat boots | scribbling on desks

seventies

colorful wardrobe | doodling flowers | wearing short shorts | using a bikini top or bra as a normal top | listening to ABBA | flowers in your hair | diy-ing everything | jamming to songs alone in your room | drunkenly telling your friends you love them | patterned bandanas | mid heeled shoes | messy braids | flared sleeves | walking barefoot on grass or sand | bold sunglasses | the good kind of tired you get after doing something you enjoy for hours | feeding stray animals | fun patterned socks | room decorated with succulents and other plants| likes to go roller skating or skateboarding

preppy casual

collared clothes | drinking juice out of a champagne glass | getting excited to see the met gala looks | thick headbands | small pastel cardigans | making your friends take your ootd pics | plaid mini skirts | tweed two pieces | watching reality tv to pass time | frilly tops | watching old hollywood movies | academically driven | long manicured nails | new year’s eve fireworks | colorful tights | layered golden jewelry | yearns for luxury brand items | decorating your room with fairy-lights | cursive and neat handwriting | lace details

cinanamon - steph

gold jewelry, slowdancing in the kitchen with a lover, sun on skin, red-tinted lip balm, lazy mornings, getting lost in foreign cities, scent of bakeries, high-waisted jeans, kissing someone’s neck, writing reminders on your wrist, sleeping in braids to have waves in the morning, growing an herb garden, gentle touches, sketches tucked between pages, flushed cheeks, tandem bikes, floating in a pool, vintage gold hand-mirror, deer grazing, softly singing while doing chores

jaesmintea - dia

oversized everything | painted nails | fairy lights | dozing off in the middle of class | tying hair up into a ponytail | round glasses | laughing so hard you can’t breathe | late night study sessions | tender hand holding | impromptu photoshoots | drowning in moondust | bathing in the light of the sunset | strawberry flavored lollipops | polaroid pictures | eagerly tugging someone down the street | handwritten love letters | smell of coffee | living with reckless abandon | crinkled pages of a journal | replaying the same part in a song over and over

naptimetea - helena

everything black | rewearing your favorite outfit | drawing late into the night | rewatching favorite shows | the bread isle | minty lip balm | falling asleep anywhere and everywhere | making green tea | useless questions when it’s 2 am | forehead kisses | sleeping in till the afternoon | love of pink | staying up to watch the sunrise | dancing in the bathroom | messy handwriting | pile of sketchbooks | talking for hours about interest | old sentimental stuff animals | hanging out on the bed and doing nothing | thick fluffy blankets

jeonginks

the thrill of leaning your body way over a balcony’s edge | the suffocating feeling when the strong wind blows down your lungs | tip-toeing barefoot | hair ruffling and cheek pinching | hugging a body pillow at night | facing the sky with closed eyes | the whimsical silence when it’s past midnight and you’re the only person awake | when you can physically feel your eyes soften when you look at someone | dancing alone with only an oversized shirt | when your sweater falls over your thighs as you stand up | humming scary but memorable lullabies | vivid imagination | w-sitting with a mini skirt and thigh high socks | heated laptop on your lap | cereal at 3 am | gliding your fingers across your thighs | bittersweet melancholy | withdrawn and distant eyes | very tight belts | wanting love but not believing in it | not cruel but not kind

scxrlettwxtches

listening to a song and remembering the times you used to listen to it on repeat | imagining yourself living in any other life than the one you have now | crop tops and high waisted jeans | forgetting to smile but not actually being upset | nuzzling your face in the crook of their neck | back hugs when you’re stressed | turning in assignments 1 minute before they’re due | wanting a relationship but getting scared the moment you’re in one | pretending that you don’t care when inside you’re burning with doubts and fears | the sound of the evening waves as you lie on the sand | lying in your bed listening to your sad playlist | exhaustion but you can’t sleep | singing loudly when you’re the only one home | feeling safe and comfortable with that person in your life | knee high suede black boots with your black winter coat | comfort over appearance | writing essays at 2 am | creative peak from 1 am to 4 am | the one that always ends up walking in the back of a friend group

hyunsracha - sav!

split-dye hair | female rappers | staying up until 6am and sleeping until 1pm | taking notes on an ipad | middle school emo music | mini skirts | late night drives | rain on the ocean | flirting with people when you’re bored | doc martens | eating ramen in the pot | afraid of being looked at | fishnets | getting joy out of making people laugh | small tattoos | crying yourself to sleep | peppermint everything | desperate for freedom | chipped black nail polish

lveletters

well-worn converse | ginger ice cream | farmers’ markets | amaretto in coffee | the sound of pen on paper | empty mountain trails | black and white photographs | vintage bicycles | roads trips with no destination | overfilled bookcases | a shoebox full of ticket stubs | granny smith apples | orange gerbera daisies | cardigan sweaters | games that tell a story | red wine in a mason jar | succulent gardens | tattoos of birds | fresh-baked muffins | a favorite pair of jeans

dnceracha - sydni

black chelsea boots | chapped lips | browline glasses | losing yourself in video games | impressionist art | pink peonies | writing down anything you need to remember | the smell of gasoline | business goth style | dangly earrings | florals | ballet flats | cuffed jeans | liking the villain | a stack of journals | generous amounts of highlighter | knives | rain on a tin roof | heavy footsteps | small-town diners

bamshine - sae

chunky black boots | not realizing you’ve been writing for hours | soft dog fur under your hand | the loud gathering of friends after an exhausting dance class | bubble tea | casual touches between friends | beach trips | airports late at night or early in the morning | coming home from travel and finally being in your own bed | leaves crunching under your foot | shopping for groceries with christmas music on the radio | loud family gatherings over a pizza | succulents | goofy singing and dancing with friends | getting so into a book you do nothing else all day except read | cool summer evenings around a bonfire | apple cider | the scent of vanilla | selfies with friends | the sting of a new tattoo

1of1orbit - nes

the feeling of having forgotten something at home | fear of missing out in life | the little sneeze your pet does | looking at the night sky and feeling so small | cutting the itchy label of your shirt | binge watching dramas | flipping thru your imagination worlds | editing something til late night hours | the annoying awareness of your own heart beat | not being able to let go of that one ugly shirt | watching youtube for hours | watching ancient egypt/space docu | chatting with one person for hours | eating that one fresh seasonal fruit in summer | closing and reopening that same tab | having wishlists in several websites | skipping past ig stories | capitalist shopping therapy | checking your delivery number despite having it just ordered yesterday

1soos - kirby

enamel pins | platform heels | doing your research | having high expectations | magic in media | 20+ tabs open on your laptop | feeling accomplished after cleaning | tight black jeans | really soft hoodies | laptop stickers | letting the room get dark around you | deep green | web comics | knocking things over and catching them before they hit the floor | waking up early | drinks on a balcony | creeping vines on brick walls | dark mode | having no follow-through 

[gutterdreams]

Wrapped Up Part 1

Disclaimer: I do not own Stranger Things. Word Count: 2.5 k Warnings: Lite smut, swearing. 

This story came about so randomly. Please, let me know what you think. Billy x Reader, Steve x Reader If I forget to tag you, I apologize. I have a hard time keeping track.

MASTERLIST

To call this dangerous was putting it lightly. You two would have been safer putting your heads in the mouth of a starving and pissed off grizzly bear. Still, knowing the consequences, neither of you had a desire to quit. Steve hadn’t been so excited in his life in months. His hands slid up your sides as he tried to catch his breath, your chapped lips giving him a break that was long enough to lean back against your kitchen table and peel your shirt overhead. “I wanted you all day…” Steve gasped against your stomach in between needy kisses over your taut skin. “I saw you outside in your gym uniform…” He kept talking as he lowered down to his knees, head in front of the zipper of your jeans. He stopped only to start unbuttoning his own shirt that reeked from a day of lusting after you while confined by assigned seating and situation. A planned fire drill took place while you were in gym class, a game of dodgeball having just begun. It was freezing outside and your nipples were poking through your grey gym shirt as your legs were speckled with goosebumps down to your white sneakers. Steve had watched you closely with a firmness tightening his jeans. His hands laid flat in his pockets as his feet fidgeted endlessly on the ground. It wasn’t until a shadow cast over his fantasy that he turned away and his arousal diminished. 

Billy found you in the crowd of students and pulled you into his groin from behind, both arms around your waist and his mouth nipping at your neck. He turned you inward and put his hands in the pocket of his brown leather jacket, using it to keep you both warm at once. Plus, he wanted your cold breasts against him and not on display for the rest of the student body. That was where the danger came in. Billy was a possessive loose cannon and you were his dream girl from your cubic zirconia pierced ears to your sour cherry flavored  lips to your penchant for wearing knee socks that fed into his school girl fantasy. Steve knew he could not have picked a worse person to become infatuated with, but when he joined student council and wound up spending lunch periods and weekends with you back in January, he couldn’t really help himself. It wasn’t as if you controlled yourself either. After dropping you off for a fundraiser while in a rotten mood, Billy left you open to Steve’s comforting words. He had cursed you out as you climbed out of his car and Steve was there to make sure you weren’t completely rattled. After that, Steve’s hand on your back became a staple and it was natural that eventually that hand would be down the front of your pants while you took a break from planning a car wash to raise money for a senior trip. Steve was working your tight jeans off of your hips, smiling against the cotton fabric of your underwear, when the phone rang and scared you both. The fear of being caught by anyone, and therefore Billy, kept you both on edge. “Don’t get it.” Brown eyes warm at your pelvis, Steve asked while nodding back into your one hand that was gently combing his thick head of hair. After four rings, it stopped so you went back to using the table behind you for support and letting Steve undress you, but the phone started to scream at a high pitch again. If it wasn’t your grandma, it would be Billy. You didn’t want to give your perpetually emotional boyfriend any reason to show up unannounced, so you started to wiggle away. “No, no, no,no,no,no,no....” Moaning against your hip bone, Steve held his face there and tried to hold your legs in place. One hand left the table and the other fled from his hair and you stopped around him to race for the phone on the wall by the sliding glass door. It was hard to run with your pants at your knees, but you caught the last ring and gasped into the phone. “Hello?” Once again, something kept the two of you from getting together. All you and Steve had accomplished was messy kisses and secret touching and glances. It was starting to feel like the universe was trying to get involved, trying to protect you both from inevitable doom. There was a quiet pause and a sigh before, “Hey.” It was Billy, clearly smoking in a quiet place somewhere. “I couldn’t find you anywhere after class.” He had combed the halls, feeling embarassed that he didn’t know where his girlfriend was. “Oh yeah, I had to bolt.” It wasn’t a lie. One look from Steve across the hall, a sneaky crooked smile made from his lips, and you just wanted to be reminded of what his hands felt like. They were soft unlike Billy’s that were burned at the ends from hot car wires and ash from falling asleep with a smoke in hand. They both aroused you in their own way. “Well, just…” He talked around the cigarette hanging between his teeth. “Let me know next time. I was waiting for you.” As a naturally impaitirnt man, Billy hated having to wait. “Sorry. Definitely.” While wrapping your pointer finger around the powder blue cord, you listened to Billy smoke and chat while adoring Steve with wistful eyes. He was fixing his hair with just his hands, combing it over and over to one side while resting on a black kitchen chair with his semi loaded in his jeans. It prompted you to try and shimmy your jeans up your hips with one hand, resting the phone between your shoulder and ear.   “Hello?” Billy had been talking to you, asking questions, but you were too distracted by the boy, his rival, in your kitchen. “Huh?” “I said, where did you go?” Thankfully, he didn’t sound annoyed. “Just a student council meeting. Last minute thing at my place.” You did have to ask Steve if he wanted to cover the treasury position while Melanie was out with the measles. “Oh, lame.” Billy chuckled when he heard you laugh lightly. He always teased you about your role on the student council. Nobody could believe, especially his family, that a studious girl involved with school had taken up with him. He liked that someone so intelligent thought he was worth the time or had any value. It was the validation he had been craving since early childhood. “How long are you going to be? I want to take you out.” Your heart strings stretched at how his voice lightened up, expressing himself in a kind manner. There was never a happy medium with Billy. He was either burning livid or completely fine. It made your relationship often feel like a roller coaster which was fun at the beginning, but lately, when he was pissed off, it just hurt. There was no thrill in waiting to make up anymore. “I’m not sure.” You and Steve didn’t have any finite plans. There was just an electric current dancing between you both, daring you two to connect. “Could I just call you after?” “Sure.” He complied agreeably. “Think about what you want to do.” “Ice cream.” Making him laugh, you instantly told him. You didn’t need a single second for consideration. If Billy was taking you out, you were getting a butterscotch sundae with chocolate chips. “Okay.” Amused, you could hear Billy’s adoring smile through the phone. “Hey?” He put his smoke out in the empty beer can on a hallway book shelf and kept you on the phone. “Is Harrington there?” He checked just as Steve was getting up from his spot, grabby hands out in front of you and teasing. Instantly, your mind screeched like the television would when a channel went out. Had someone seen you leave in Steve’s parents car? You had tried to be so careful. “I hate that he’s a part of your group.” Billy griped and returned you to reality. You weren’t doing anything wrong with Steve as far as he knew. You two were just having a student council meeting. “Yeah, he’s here.” Looking right at Steve as he slid a hand from your hip to the dimple on your back, you told your boyfriend. It was strangely nice to not lie to him even though you were purposefully omitting the truth. “I’ll call you once we are done, okay?” Billy considered just coming over and hanging out in your room while you went about your meeting, but he knew he would grow frustrated with waiting or being in the same room of people who didn’t like him. So, he sighed and nodded. “Okay. See you later, babe.” You hung up quickly and left him to his own devices, which he loathed. “Does he ever leave you alone?” Steve asked in a mumble as he pulled you close, breathing in his scent on your skin and kissing at the side. “He would lock you up in a tower if he could…” The moment was gone though. Billy’s voice had guided you away from your feverish desire and left a guilty pang in your chest. While your boyfriend wasn’t perfect, he didn’t deserve to be cheated on. In fact, you were pretty sure it would kill him, absolutely pulverize his heart to a bloody pulp. Pulling your head away, you pushed a palm softly against Steve’s chest and leaned into the wall. Steve didn’t ask. He knew you were out of it. Your eyes had lost their excited firework show and looked lost in muddled, but sad thoughts. “Do you want to watch a movie?” Scratching at his forehead, he suggested. It wasn’t just physical for him. He wanted to be with you. You might have been pulling away, but Steve slid his hand into yours anyway, offering himself as an alternative to the mullet haired metal-loving maniac that had claimed you from the first time you walked by him in aisle three of the grocery store. “I can’t.” Teeth tight, your mouth apologized without actually saying sorry. Honestly, you would have loved to sit on the couch with his fingers playing with your hair, some silly comedy on. “I told Billy I’d go for ice cream with him.” “Cute.” Hurt, Steve teased and finally backed off. He dropped your hand and leaned back on your heels. “Steve.” “What?” He was playing dumb, so you didn’t give in with an answer. You just dropped your chin toward your chest, brows raised. It was a go-to expression that said it all. 

“I just don’t get it.” He coughed up quickly with a double shoulder shrug, one like James Dean on a movie screen might. “You’re just an amazing girl, like, incredible.” He could over look your lapse in loyalty as it benefited his body and ego. He thoroughly enjoyed your lips on his and, while he would never admit it, he liked that he knew it would destroy Billy. The king of their school’s girlfriend needing satisfaction and heat from the kid he detested most. Whenever Billy said Steve, it sounded like a curse, like he was being forced to chew a gamy and rancid meat. “And Billy is…” “Not an amazing girl?” You joked with your head resting right up against one shoulder. Sometimes, you made yourself laugh. “No, he’s just… Billy.” Steve scoffed and then grimaced. “Cancel on him and I’ll take you for ice cream.” It sounded like a whine, but you overlooked the noise since you understood that the situation wasn’t very fair to him. “No, absolutely not. We can’t go out. Hawkins is too small.” The risk of being seen stealing giggly glances at each other or holding hands was too high. All it would take was Steve handing you a spoon for your sundae and Billy would use that same spoon to stab Steve and then you. There was no happy ending in that scenario.

“What if I want to take you out?” On the tip of your tongue, there was a slow protest. You nearly told Steve what he already knew, that you had a boyfriend, but then you examined the situation and ignored the thought. “We shouldn’t even be doing this.” You pointed back and forth between your chests. “I’ll just see you at school and the meeting on Monday, okay? Thanks for driving me home.” “Yeah, of course.” Even if you hadn’t wanted to kiss on him, he would have happily brought you to your place. He way Billy drove, you would be safer hitting the road inside a freewheeling tire. Steve didn’t want to leave. He wanted to keep sliding his hands around your body, feel your heartbeat through your blouse against his chest, and kiss your lips until they were glossy again. He knew he couldn’t stay though. He wasn’t your boyfriend…well, not yet. He smirked at the thought and leaned in to kiss you, but you were quicker and dove in to skip his mouth and leave a small wet peck on his nearest cheek. 

“I’ll see you tomorrow.” He looked for satisfaction in the disappointment and began to walk out of the kitchen, letting himself out. “See you.” Sweet and low, you whispered and waved as he left. You took a little time to yourself to regroup before calling But back. You wanted to brush your teeth, remove Steve’s flavor, as well as have a long glass of water. Billy’s voice came through a cough on the other line once you felt more collected. Still, the guilt of being caught up with Steve squeezed at your stomach when you heard your boyfriend speak. He clearly had been waiting for you to call him back. Usually, it was Susan who answered the phone whenever you called without warning. “I’m ready now.” Your voice was small, somehow weakened by the confusing pain you were feeling. You were hurting Billy even if he didn’t know it and you were well aware that the situation was unkind to Steve even if he was a sling participant in it. “How’d the meeting go?” The question caught you by surprise and adjusted your posture. Usually, Billy didn’t acknowledge your extracurricular activities. He just wanted you and that was the extent of it. He never inquired for more information. “Oh, it was good.” Very vaguely, the words trembled off your tongue. It was harder than you thought it would be to lie. You wondered if criminals always felt this horrible.  "Pretty boring, really.“ “I figured as much.” He chuckled to himself. “I can be there right away. Just got to get my keys.” You hadn’t a clue that he was currently waiting for you to save him from boredom in his bedroom, shirtless and horny. He was truly excited to see you though and not only because you were his favorite escape. “Okay, I’ll be ready.” You assured him and looked over yourself, making sure no signs of Steve’s touch was on the same clothes you wore to school. “See you soon.” This time he hung up first, eager to have your fingers between his and hips against his. He wanted to get his girl ice cream because he took great pride in making you happy.

@daddyslittlemunster @stevesharrlngtons @devintagekids @penguinlover15 @4-a-m @ineedacureforme @lovelydacre @mistressofmanyfandoms @characterobsessed @princessnancy @stephaniecats

@kaliforniacoastalteens @can-youmoveyourseatup

[prairiesongserial]

3.16

Quadrille was working the loan counter again. She looked as briefly surprised to see Cody as Piquet had been, and didn’t bother trying to cover it up. The expression was gone soon enough, though, replaced by a mixture of bored and sleepy. Maybe La Salle was having a slow night.

“You work here all the time?” Cody asked.

“Just nights,” she said. “I sleep during the day.”

Cody considered this. “Sounds like a shitty schedule.”

“It is what it is.” Quadrille shrugged. “Did you come here to take out a loan, or just to say hi? If you’re looking for your buddy, I haven’t seen him since the two of you were here last night.”

“I came for a loan, actually,” Cody said. He didn’t take much pleasure in the look on Quadrille’s face when he said it.

“Really,” she said, drawing the word out. “Weren’t you all up in arms about your buddy borrowing money last night?”

“Well, he didn’t leave me a lot to work with, and I gotta have something to bet with if I’m gonna win him back,” Cody said, a little defensively. He didn’t like feeling like he was under scrutiny for a decision he was still questioning himself. He hated Pem a little, just then, for refusing to split his winnings between the two of them.

“You really think you can win him back?” Quadrille asked, lifting one neatly penciled eyebrow at him.

Cody noticed for the first time how sharp Quadrille’s features were, how alert her eyes seemed to be despite her near-perpetual boredom. Her hair was dark and shaved on the sides, the long part in the middle slicked back with pomade - not a style he’d ever seen anyone but gangsters wear. He wondered if Quadrille had gotten caught cheating here like Piquet had. Maybe she’d done worse than Piquet, if she was stuck working late shifts at the loan counter instead of measuring and dressing the folks who came through the front door. Were Quadrille and Piquet even their real names? Likely not.

“I don’t know that it’s any of your business,” he replied, as politely as he could.

Quadrille laughed. “Fair enough. How much are you borrowing?”

“How much do people usually borrow?” Cody asked. He really had no way to gauge what was a fair amount to ask for, what he could reasonably expect to make back or even double during his time at La Salle. He’d never exactly gambled with anything more than a couple pieces of silver before. Even the local gangs in Oregon kept the stakes relatively low - most of them played for resources and things they could trade, instead of money.

“Depends what you’re playing, and how much you think you can win back,” Quadrille said. She seemed decently well versed in it. “High-rollers go for big loans, obviously. But most people can’t afford to be high-rollers. Or aren’t good enough at the games.”

“I’m good enough,” Cody said, suddenly annoyed with this whole endeavor. He was ready to get back to the Mia table, to feel like he was doing something instead of standing around and figuring out how much of his soul La Salle was entitled to. “Give me ten thousand.”

“Ten -” Quadrille said, eyes wide. “You don’t need that much to play downstairs!”

“Yeah, but I want it.” Cody glanced over his shoulder, wary that Ombre might decide to pop up at any moment, then leaned in towards Quadrille. “Listen, I’m not stupid enough to bet it all at once. I -”

“Whatever you think your plan is, I really don’t want to know,” Quadrille said, with a sigh. She was already stacking chips on the counter between them, mostly the ones that denoted a hundred pieces of silver, and motioned for Cody’s hand so she could stamp it. “It’s going to go badly for you, either way. You know that, right?”

“Hey, I already owe ten thousand to somebody else,” Cody said, gamely presenting his hand for Quadrille to stamp. “What’s another ten thousand in the hole?”

Pem, Nash, and Cole were all sitting around the Mia table again by the time Cody got there, in the same seats they’d taken during the first round. Pem and Nash were chatting animatedly about something or other, and Cole was nursing a glass of what looked like whiskey. She glanced up as Cody took his seat, and half-smiled to see the red number stamped on his hand.

“You too, huh?” she asked, holding up her own hand. The number there only read 1,000 - still, it was a lot more than Cody had seen on her hand in the last round. She must have gone back to the loan counter between rounds, too.

“Yeah,” he said, with a sort of sheepishness he didn’t exactly have to fake. He tugged his sleeve down a bit, to try and cover up the number. He’d have to find a way to avoid drawing attention to exactly how much he’d borrowed - it was nice to have some of it as a sort of safety net, but Cody didn’t really want to bet more than five hundred pieces at a time if he didn’t have to. Hell, even five hundred pieces seemed like a lot.

“Well, good luck making it back,” Cole said.

“Thanks,” Cody replied, a little surprised by how sincerely she’d wished him well.

He opened his mouth to say something else, maybe make real conversation with Cole, but Jacquet returned to the table just then, and Cody noticed something curious. Jacquet was tall and pale, with sharp features, and an alert sort of gaze that made you feel as though you were always just about to be scolded. They had inky black hair, shaved on the sides, the long part slicked up and away from their forehead in a neat pompadour. All together, they looked remarkably like…

“Hey, Jacquet,” Cody said. “That lady at the loan counter looks a lot like you. You two related?”

Jacquet looked taken off guard by the question, but smoothed their expression over quickly.

“Yes, actually,” they replied. “Quadrille is my sister.”

“How’d the two of you come to be workin’ here together?” Cody asked. He doubted this would get him anywhere, but he figured it didn’t hurt to be curious.

“Ah,” Jacquet said, with a thin sort of smile. “I’m not certain I’m at liberty to answer that question, Mr. Allison.”

Cody smiled back at Jacquet, trying to seem understanding. That answer was about what he’d expected, so it was alright. Still, he had to wonder. Had Jacquet and Quadrille really been gangsters? Or con artists? Would Jacquet know who the Dead-Eyes were, if Cody happened to drop the name? Of course, La Salle was in New Mexico, not Oregon, but there was no telling where Jacquet and Quadrille had come from originally.

“Jacquet,” Nash said loudly, breaking into Cody’s thoughts. “Start us off, will you? I want to get rolling before Cole gets properly tipsy.”

“I’m not a lightweight, Nash,” Cole admonished him. “But yes, let’s get to it. I was hoping to play a little blackjack afterwards.”

“A lady after my own heart,” Pem said, with a laugh.

“I suppose we’d better get to it,” Jacquet said, looking all at once relieved that they’d been rescued from a difficult conversation with Cody and immeasurably exhausted that they had to preside over another round of Mia. Cody’s heart went out to them.

“I don’t suppose we’ll have to do another practice round,” they added. They reached into a drawer that seemed to extend from underneath the table, pulling out four white dice, and sliding each one over to one of the people seated around the table. “In that case, let’s have each one of you roll your life die to see -”

“Is this seat taken?” a woman asked, suddenly appearing out of the crowd to stand behind the empty seat between Cole and Pem.

“Nope,” Nash said, cheerfully. “We’re just about to start, though, so take it if you’re gonna take it.”

“Oh, good,” the woman said, heaving an exaggeratedly relieved sort of sigh as she dropped down into the chair.

Cody looked her over - then did a double take. She was short, with a black bob sort of like Cole’s, and a red dress that clung tightly to her body. And she was covered in tattoos. Realistic eyes, ones of every color, that looked like they were coming right out of her arms and chest. There was even one on the side of her neck. As Cody stared at them all, one of the eyes on the woman’s shoulder rolled in its socket, and blinked.

Okay, so maybe they weren’t tattoos. Or some of them were, and some of them weren’t. It was hard to tell.

“Nice camouflage you’ve got there,” Nash said, nodding his head at the woman.

She gave him a secretive sort of smile. “I’m afraid I’m not sure what you mean.”

“Do you know how to play Mia, Miss…?” Jacquet trailed off, looking sidelong at the woman. Some of her eyes looked sidelong back at Jacquet, in return.

“Erma,” she replied. “And yes. I like to think I’m quite good at Mia, actually. Though I suppose that’s obvious, or I wouldn’t have come over here to play with you lot.”

“Yes,” Jacquet said flatly, setting a life die down in front of her. “I suppose it is.”

“Well, what are we waiting for?” Erma asked loudly, glancing around the table. She was already beginning to rub Cody the wrong way, though he kept it to himself. “We’re all here to play Mia, so let’s play the damn game already.”

Pem laughed. “You heard the lady, Jacquet. Let’s play the damn game.”

Sighing, Jacquet set the red dice down onto the table, and the cup on top of them.

“Yes,” they said, “I suppose we’d better.”

3.15 || 3.17

[peemil]

there’s like 97 questions below the cut o ya bud leafs go!

tagged by @frogadir

tagging: uhhh the only people I’m gonna tag outright are @angelmimikyu and/or @delightful-dragon (whichever one of you is online or if you both want to do it that’s okay too!) and @superlego but if any of my other mutuals want to take part go ahead and say I tagged you.

1. Full Name: Peenis Weenis Lastname 2. Nicknames: Pinty (but no one’s called me that in a while), Tiny Guzma, Gay Dad, Shithead, and Short Sleeves Gay Kim Jong Emil 3. Birthday: Don’t Forget: 3 Oct. 11 4. Age: (This information has been redacted on account of how utterly and completely disgusting it is.) 5. Star Sign: Libra 6. Moon Sign: Leo 7. Ascendant/Rising Sign: Sagittarius 8. Venus Sign: Leo (again) 9. Gender: the emcee from the 1998 revival of Cabaret 10. Pronouns: he/him 11. Sexuality: GAYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYY 12. MBTI: ENFP 13. Relationship Status:

14. Best Friend: oh bepis? And Princess Leia. 15. Religion: Ahaha, What A Story, Mark 16. Favorite Color: like a sort of french blue and also maroon 17. Favorite Music Genre: gay 18. Favorite Band/Artist: I’ve decided to narrow it down to pinocchioP and My Chemical Romance because I fucking hate myself 19. Favorite Song: Of all time is probably either “Crappy Fantasy Days” or “The Silence of the Lambs” (translation here) by pinocchioP but right now my favorite is probably “Not What I Needed” by Car Seat Headrest. 20. Favorite Holiday: Halloween, but if you count Pride as a holiday then Pride. 21. Favorite TV Show: Fool. I Have Depression. 22. Favorite YouTuber: my greatest fear is that no one warned markimoo about the la gangs in time 23. Favorite Perfume/Cologne: This question is making me weirdly dysphoric. 24. Favorite Season: Early Fall. But my favorite months are November and July. 25. Favorite Flower: I used to know but I forgot. 26. Favorite Gemstone: yknow it really is steven’s universe and we’re all just living in it 27. Favorite Roller Coaster: ngl I really like Silver Bullet at Knott’s Berry Farm but idk if that counts since it’s inverted. Kinda scares the shit outta me but it’s fun! 28. Favorite Fruit: Watermelon and oranges. 29. Favorite Vegetable: Lettuce, and if that doesn’t count, broccoli. 30. Favorite Ice Cream Flavor: I’m a fucking child who likes bubble gum and cotton candy flavors. That kinda Bull Shit 31. Favorite Candy: idk bur rn it’s the sour tape things. 32. Favorite Restaurant: (This information has also been redacted on account of how utterly and completely disgusting it is.) 33. Favorite Fast Food Restaurant: In-N-Out Burger because I’m not a fake fucking bitch. 34. Favorite Starburst Flavor: uhh probably pink? 35. Favorite Pizza Topping: Bell peppers and white onions. 36. Favorite Chip Flavor: Salt™ 37. Favorite Non-Alcoholic Beverage: This thing I got years ago, it’s like a Shirley Temple but instead of grenadine it’s blue vanilla syrup like you’d use on a snow cone. 38. Favorite Alcoholic Beverage: Growing fond of white wine. Ha Ha. Tell The Kids I Say Hi. 39. Favorite Video Game: Pokémon Sapphire, Pokémon Sun, MySims Agents, and, last but certainly not least, Cooking Mama. 40. Favorite Board Game: Never really liked board games. Ya Boy Likes His Card Gaymes. 41. Favorite City: I’m an Ell Dot Ay Dot Babey Born And Raised but I love Vancouver as well. Also San Francisco but LA is still me Home. 42. Favorite Dog Breed: Bernese Mountain Dog. Also poodles, namely standard poodles. 43. Favorite Animal: Dolphins, seals, opossums. One Of These Is Not Like The Others 44. Favorite Number(s): 12, 25. 45. Coffee or Tea: Depends. If I’m trying to wake up, coffee but with a lot of cream. If I’m trying to chill the Fuck out but not fall asleep, tea. 46. Vanilla or Chocolate: Depends on my mood. 47. Leather or Denim: I don’t love denim jackets but the idea of leather pants disgusts me. I guess it depends on the context. 48. Short Sleeves or Long Sleeves: They Call Me Short Sleeves Gay King Jong Emil for a reason, yknow 49. Patterned or Plain: The Best Time To Wear A Striped Sweater. Is All The Time 50. Floral or Plaid: Plaid. I was raised by lesbian wolves. 51. Black or White: You know, It’s Not Always Black Or White. But Your Heart Always Knows What’s Right. Hahaha. I’m just fucking with you. It’s black. I’m emo. 52. Makeup or No Makeup: I Would Prefer Not To 53. Tumblr or Twitter: Depends on if I’m in the mood for white supremacists or thirtysomethings getting into arguments with Literal Children about the sociological implications of a fucking cartoon. 54. Facebook, Snapchat, or Instagram: My Instagram that I give out to IRL people is my last line of defense for tricking my extended family into thinking I’m a cishet girl. Facebook is just annoying and Snapchat depresses me. Also my finsta is fun. 55. Phone, Tablet, or Computer: Computer, probably. 56. Liberal or Conservative: I’m a disabled, gay, transgender man who is the child of an immigrant and grandchild of refugees, you do the fucking math. 57. Sunrise or Sunset: Sunset. 58. Are you vegetarian?: Trying to be pescatarian. 59. Are you vegan?: *shoveling ice cream into my mouth and pouring milk into my eyes* sorry what was that I couldn’t hear you 60. Are you allergic to anything?: Several types of tree nuts, not sure which kinds yet. 61. Are you polyamorous?: I’m like, vaguely aromantic and it’s difficult for me to imagine myself being with one partner, let alone multiple, so uh. Definitely not. 62. Have you been out of state?: Ye. 63. Have you been out of the country?: Yes, but only to a depressingly short list of places. 64. Have you kissed a boy?: Yes. 65. Have you kissed a girl?: I’m Not Trying To Get Fucking Cooties Out Here, Dumbass!!! 66. Have you ever kissed a nonbinary person?: Yes. 67. Have you ever broken a bone: No. 68. Have you been to the emergency room?: Noah Fence but You’re Just A Sad Song With Nothing To Say About A Lifelong Wait For A Hospital Stay. And, if you think that I’m wrong??? This Never Meant Nothing To You 69. Have you ever been high?: Hahaha, “69.″ 70. Have you ever been drunk?: Did you mean: Kids Baking Championship Season 3 Episode 8: “Pet Shop Joys” ? 71. Have you ever been in a band or choir?: I did choir from 4th-6th grade. It fucking sucked. 72. Have you ever catfished someone: No. 73. Do you have any siblings?: No. 74. Do you live with your parents?: Yes. 75. Do you have more than 100 followers?: Yes. 76. Do you have more than 1000 followers?: No. 77. Do you have more than 10000 followers?: No. 78. Do you smoke weed?: you do know that your body absorbs the thc faster if you suck the weed’s toes instead of smoking it, right? 79. Do you drink?: I haven’t done so habitually in a while. 80. Do you have a job?: Not that I get paid for. 81. Do you own any musician/YouTuber merch?: why are these two categories grouped together 82. Do you have any internet friends?: YES and I’m Lov them all 83. Do you play any instruments?: Emil Lastname: Mr. Plinky Ukulele 84. Where did you go/are you going to college?: It’s Cold. It’s Cold. It’s Cold. It’s Cold. It’s Cold. It’s Cold. It’s Cold. It’s C 85. What’s your major?: Being gay. I wish this was a fucking joke but it’s not a fucking joke and I am seriously concerned about my futu 86. Names of all your group chats: I don’t know any off the top of my head. A lot of them don’t have names. 87. Tap the middle autofill button 10 times: This Is A Fucking Computer 88. What time zone do you live in?: Pacific. 89. Your best friend’s sign?: Scorpio and Virgo (she is the one (1) exception to my Anti-Virgo Laws). Also my dog is an Aquarius, fun fact. 90. Your 2nd, 3rd, and 4th closest friends’ signs?: the fuck kind of heterosexual bullshit...? Who is really out here with a fucking numbered list of their friends I’d like to know??? Like I’ll admit to having a couple I’m closer to but I don’t have a fucking. Friendship caste system. What the fuck 91. Your crush’s sign: Sorry For Not Getting Into A Deep, Hourlong Conversation About Fucking Astrology With The Guy Who Saved Me From Falling On My Ass At The Roller Skating Rink, The Fuck 92. Your mom’s sign: Pisces 93. Your dad’s sign: Aries 94. Your sibling(s)’ sign(s): N/A 95. Your enemies’ signs: idk all of them but most of them are Virgos, hence the Laws 96. Your exes’ signs: Virgo and Sagittarius. There’s one more who is also a Virgo but she was Beyond An Ex she was just evil fucking incarnate and also Literally Abusive so it’s not like a “oh I’m petty and I don’t like my exes” like this girl is the Cause Of My PTSD like. It’s Not Joke 97. An ex best friend’s sign:  This is some middle school bullshit but I love middle school bullshit so. Taurus.

[the-cryptographer]

@rainstormcolors

Why are the reviews on AO3 all so articulate? asdfg. (I wrote up most of this before reading them.)

You’re articulate too, though! You don’t give yourself enough credit, omg.

But if you guest comment on ffnet, I can’t reply to your review through the site. Which was maybe why you commented there instead of ao3, but here I am, responding publicly anyhow :p

-YGO is a franchise with such a separation from reality; it’s always striking when a fic plays their world so grounded, with all the details and routines of our reality to tend to.

Haha. This was conceptualised before DSoD. And, now having watched it, I kinda think a ygo future fic about Seto sould be more sci-fi and futuristic in its general aesthetic. there’s some kind of discrepancy even in the ygo world between the kind of mundane limitations given to the cast and the technology they use that’s of our world, versus solid holograms and the ability to upload your brain to a virtual plane(?) but, yeah, post-DSoD the idea of Seto running a company in turn-of-the-century Japan that’s more or less limited to the realities of corporate Japan seems kind of... naïve? Seto will run his company however he wants!! - that means it doesn’t have to be limited to the laws of physics, let alone the realities of political or economic policy.

But, yeah. Aside from the fact that a fic meant to be a deconstruction of boss/subordinate pupship kind of requires a mundane company setting, I kind of like the realism of these characters having to do these really ordinary tasks. I think season zero mixed the kind of daily school life vibes well with these more absurd and fantastical moments. I think I was trying to call back to that kind of vibe.

(omg, haha. i was so worried the roller coaster crash would just jar everyone out of the fic. i’m sorry i can’t actually take these characters or their setting seriously.)

- [*snip*] Basically, I like your Seto.

I am so glad you liked their meeting so much, and that there was a very clear quality to Seto‘s mental state.

For me, many fanon interpretations of Seto run either too kind and cooperative, too competent(?) and stable, or both. I was just following my headcanons about him, but I was worried he wouldn’t be well received~ Coming from somebody else, I’d worry that they’d consider the visibility of Seto’s vulnerability an insult, lol. I’m glad his bitter form of fragility seemed on key. Thank you :)

- I’m trying to put into words how you’ve matured [Jounouchi]. It’s a culmination of small details.

I think what I was hoping for Jounouchi was to make him seem a little more self-resigned and down-to-earth. He can be pretty arrogant, even how I write him, but he’s not entertaining a lot of the same grandiose dreams he once was or- er- not with the same kind of high hopes that he used to. I think there are both good and bad things about that but- Yeah, I think he’s spread himself thin enough that there’s not a lot left to put into figuring out his own goals. Which is probably somewhat intentional.

- The moments of friendship are cute, between Yugi and Jou and between Jou and Anzu. Jou and Honda seem outright brotherly to me.

x)

re: Jou and his father.

Ah, it’s somewhat of a pet peeve of mine. (Child) Abuse as it is portrayed in fanfiction... Ah, um, I think there tend to be lots of conflicting feelings and circumstances. But, um, even if you care about someone you shouldn’t stick around them if they can’t treat your right. Advice that Joey absolutely refuses to take because he’s been raised not to.

- I like how Jonouchi doesn’t remember to return Mai’s handkerchief for so long, but apparently he’d put it on his person regularly. It’s become a token of her. I’m trying to think of how to describe the Polar scenes in general. Mai’s a presence in Jou’s heart and we’re given blips and fractures of these meaningful moments between them, and perhaps that’s a reflection of their separation. There’s almost a sort of vague dreaminess to those scenes, I think because of the way they’re spliced into the greater narrative and because there is this literal distance between them. I think the hyphenation might be contributing to this effect as well, as it reminds me these scenes are spliced in. Mai seems elegant and warm.

Thank you! I’m glad you liked the handkerchief scene!

lol, I’m doing my best to not let anybody forget for even a second that Mai is a presence in this fic, even via her absence. Jou certainly hasn’t forgotten.

The italicisation of her sections is maybe a bit on the nose. There’s a point where their conversations are going to turn ‘real’ and the italicisation will stop.

- According to the comments on those AO3, you were tentative about going with Manga Mokuba for the fic. I prefer a more worldly, biting, independent Mokuba myself. I love when he’s a character in his own right and not just somebody to prop up his troubled brother. You seem to have gone the awkward teenager route with him.

I was reading someone else’s JouKai, which didn’t actually feature Mokuba that much, but it was the manga version and I kind of fell in love with the idea of Jounouchi interacting with a Mokuba who... looks down on him slightly(?) or is a little more pragmatic than emotional in his acceptance of Jou’s presence, and Jou kind of responding to that with a more measured mix of indulgence and resistance. Manga!Mokuba is a little less iconic in ppl’s minds than the sweet anime version but, maybe more importantly, Mokuba’s gonna be taking a somewhat antagonistic role against Seto in the plot and I was concerned that those two features mixed together would make him unrecognisable. Even when Mokuba’s acting independently in the series (stealing star chips in DK, challenging Yuugi to CapMon) you get the feeling he’s doing it with his brother’s goals in mind.

But I also prefer Mokuba’s when he’s more biting and independent. There’s a lot of potential for a Mokuba that has motives and goals that run in opposition to Seto’s. It’s a... very scary time for Seto as a result. But I think what I was trying to get at with all those oblique posts was that it might actually be good sign for them. I think it’s Mokuba saying that he believes that both Seto individually, and their bond as brothers, are strong enough to make it, even if he rocks the boat.

haha. He is an awkward ugly teenage Mokie. There’s a kind of horrible tradition of making antagonists ugly, but since the antagonist is also un-secretly the sweetest little brother and the sweetest person, I thought it might cross the line twice back into adorable. Somebody give this poor ugly troubled teen a hug~

- You put effort into explaining Jonouchi’s pale hair. How would you explain Yugi’s hair?

I think I posted on tumblr about it. I’m convinced Yuugi’s hair is naturally curly. Like, at least ringlets, if not afro. He lost the genetic lottery and so he’s a foot shorter than his peers and also has the nappiest hair for someone Japanese. No wonder he got teased.

I think I also said that Yuugi gave Jou his hair dye. Yuugi bleaches his bangs. If you’re asking about the magenta though... idk. It’s anime. I’m just gonna go with bleached bangs and the rest is black to maintain some kind of parsimony with realism.

- No, bad Isono! You’re supposed to become a surrogate family member to the Kaiba brothers according to my headcanons! Boo! (Not really. I guess if he were fleshed out as a character, he should be given his own life as well.)

I know, right?! Haha! It was a good foil for Jou though. What do employees owe their employers and vice versa, yada yada? Also I had trouble imagining Jou being able to climb all over Kaiba’s office like it's his personal jungle gym if Isono was there to put a stop to it with disapproving looks. Stop Jou 2k17!

I think in canon the Kaibros are a bit underappreciative where Isono is concerned, but I hope you didn’t miss the implication that Mokuba and Isono are still in contact. They are friends. They chat about their personal lives, and Isono asks after Seto. I kind of hope they’ll reconcile and Seto will give him some references and visit him in Fukuoka, once Seto’s a little more sane and a little less self-entitled.

asdfghjkl; This was such a kind comment ;^; You are very wonderful rainstormcolors, I don’t know what I did to deserve. Thank you for commenting and giving me the excuse to blabber more about my fic~