#How much to wrap a car in houston
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How Much is a Car Wrap in Texas?
The car wrapping industry in Texas, particularly in its bustling metropolis, Houston, has witnessed significant growth over recent years. Not only does a car wrap redefine aesthetics, but it's also an ingenious method for businesses to advertise. But, what's the damage to the wallet?
The Popularity of Houston Car Wraps
Driving through Houston, one can't help but notice the stunning array of wrapped vehicles—be it flashy advertisements on delivery vans or personalized design masterpieces on sports cars. The culture of vehicle wraps in Houston is more than a passing trend; it's an expression, a marketing tool, and a testament to the city's evolving car culture.
Factors Determining Car Wraps Houston Pricing
While many ask, "How much to wrap a car in Houston?" the answer isn't straightforward. Factors such as vehicle size, the intricacy of design, and especially the quality of materials (like the renowned 3m vinyl wrap Houston) play pivotal roles.
A Look into Car Wrap Cost
Diving deeper into the car wrap cost Houston reveals varying figures. And, while you may come across offers for a cheap car wrap in Houston, it's crucial to understand that sometimes, you get what you pay for.
Specialty Wraps: Trucks, Vans, and More
Truck wraps Houston, for instance, might come at a steeper price due to their sheer size. Similarly, a commercial auto wrap Houston for businesses could be pricier due to branding complexities and the need for long-lasting impressions.
The Convenience Factor: Finding a Car Wrap Near Me
Isn't it more convenient when what you're searching for is just around the corner? This is the advantage of a localized service. With options like Houston vehicle wrap, locals can easily find quality services in their vicinity.
Delving into the Details of Car Wrap Cost Houston
A mosaic of factors influences the cost. However, with renowned services like vinyl wrapping in houston, quality assurance is a given, even if it comes at a premium.
Custom Auto Wrapping Houston TX: A Unique Touch
For those wanting to stand out, custom auto wrapping Houston tx offers a personalized touch, ensuring your vehicle mirrors your personality, albeit at varying costs.
Saving with Deals and Financing
Pricey wrap? No worries. Platforms like Bayou Graphics offer financing options, ensuring your vehicle gets the makeover it deserves without burning a hole in your pocket.
Showcasing Excellence: A Gallery Peek
For inspiration or just plain admiration, the wrap gallery showcases some of the finest work in Houston, proving that when it comes to car wraps, the city is leagues ahead.
Maintaining Your Car Wrap
With an investment in aesthetics, maintenance is key. Gentle cleaning, avoiding harsh chemicals, and regular checks can prolong the life and look of your wrap.
Conclusion
Houston's vibrant car wrap scene isn't just about the glitz; it's a blend of art, advertising, and personal expression. While costs vary, quality assurance from reputed wrap shops ensures value for every penny spent.
FAQs
How long does a standard car wrap last?
Typically, a quality car wrap can last anywhere from 5 to 7 years with proper care.
Is it cheaper to wrap or paint a car?
While wrapping is generally more cost-effective initially, long-term maintenance costs should be considered.
Can I remove my car wrap?
Yes, car wraps are designed to be removable without damaging the original paint.
Does car wrapping offer any protection to the car's paint?
Absolutely! A wrap can act as a protective layer against minor scratches and UV rays.
How long does it take to wrap a car?
Depending on the vehicle size and wrap complexity, it can take anywhere from 1 to 5 days.
#Car wraps Houston#Car wraps Houston pricing#3m vinyl wrap houston#Car wrap cost#Car wrap near me#Truck wraps houston#Cheap car wrap houston#Car wrap cost houston#Commercial auto wrap houston#Car wrap houston prices#How much to wrap a car in houston
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lbs!marcus masterlist
pairing: marcus pike x fem!reader
word count & rating: 1.9k | explicit - minor free zone!
summary: marcus loves you. you love him.
warnings: smut - oral sex (f receiving), sweetness, it's pretty straightforward. thee final installment of you and marcus in fairfax county, va.
You unstrap yourself from your shoes before you even get out of the car. Heels in hand, you pad across the still-frozen ground to the front door. It’s already unlocked, letting you twist the knob and open the door easily. The low buzz of a power drill whines from the shadowy living room, lamps casting a white-yellow glow down the hall to make up for the lack of an overhead fixture.
You left Marcus this morning with a couple pieces of unbuilt Ikea furniture. He decided that a Wednesday in mid-January was the perfect time to use a vacation day and build it all for you. Clearly, he’s still at it. You leave the skyscraper stilettos on the floor beside the coat rack, walking down the hall as a smile paints itself across your face. He is still in his Houston Astros shirt, grey sweatpants shifting as Marcus moves from sitting to kneeling over the small shelf he’s working on.
The floor creaks beneath you, alerting him to your presence.
“Hey babe,” he says, turning to look at you.
“Hey. How’s it going?”
“Almost done with this. I’ve got a few more screws, and she’ll be all done.”
You love that Marcus refers to things as if they were some grand sea ship, calling everything from the air fryer to this cheap hunk of plywood ‘she.’
“How was work?” Marcus asks.
“Fine. Same old.” Taking another step towards him, you wince. Marcus’ face morphs into a look of concern. “Those heels did a number on me, though.”
You haven’t worn much other than athletic footwear for the last nine months. Comfortable sneakers, supportive running shoes. High heels are the exact opposite of both those things. Not to mention, that specific pair is on the brink of falling apart. But they look so cute, you couldn’t help yourself.
Marcus stands, taking you into his arms. He presses a chaste kiss to your lips.
“Let me make you feel better,” he says.
“Marcus, you’ve been working all day,” you say.
“I sat on my ass for two hours watching that political fixer show of yours, which is why I’m not done yet,” Marcus tells you, shaking his head. “I’m fine. You’re not.”
“I’m fine, too.” Yet when you step back, a hiss slithers past your lips.
“You’re not,” he says again. “It’s no trouble. I want to.”
He’s already in your head, reading all the thoughts that pass through. You don’t want to hassle him. It’s no big deal. So on and so forth. He gives you a heart-melting stare, eyes round with softness.
You say, “Okay, yeah,” and he’s practically scooping you into his arms.
Marcus leads you up the stairs to your room with instructions to get on the bed. Laying flat on the mattress takes the pressure off your spine, your body flooding with relief. Marcus gets on his knees, kneeling at the end. He takes one of your feet into his hands, resting it in his lap before he starts to rub at the skin.
He gently works his fingers over your foot, thumb digging into your arch. You sigh at his touch, relaxing further into the pillows. Marcus soothes the ache in your first metatarsal with easy pressure. Standing at an incline for almost ten hours has done a number on your joints, the pain melting away as he continues his massage. You roll your ankle when he moves onto the next foot.
Opening your eyes, you’re quick to notice how Marcus stares at you. Your legs, specifically, thighs wrapped in sheer brown nylon. He looks like a kid on Christmas morning, enraptured, ready to tear you open.
“Like what you see, handsome?” you ask.
“Hmm?” Marcus hums, eyes back on your face in an instant.
“You’re staring at my thigh highs.”
“A man can’t appreciate his girl’s excellent taste in fashion?” he asks.
You remove your foot from his grasp, pressing your toes into the center of his chest. “If I didn’t know any better, I’d say Marcus Pike has a bit of a stocking fetish.”
At your words, Marcus’ ears grow pink. His whole face is flushed, eyes crinkling as he smiles awkwardly. Realization dawns on you as he reaches to scratch the back of his neck, the conversation effectively dying. He does. You’ve caught him in a net of terrible awkwardness, laying here at an impasse.
“Marcus…”
“I know it’s weird,” he says.
“What? No,” you say. Sitting up, you shake your head. “I’m sorry. I didn’t know.”
“You’re alright.”
“I don’t think it’s weird,” you assure him.
“Seriously?” Marcus asks.
“Of course not. I wouldn’t lie to you about that.”
Both kneeling before each other, you take his hand and drag it to the side of your leg. The synthetic fabric slips under his fingers. Feeling the texture of the nylon and your soft skin just beneath it stirs something in him. Pressing closer, you feel him hard against your hip.
You wrap your arms around his neck, kissing him deep and slow. His hands take their place at either side of you, sliding from the stockings up beneath your skirt. Marcus squeezes your ass, palming at you for a moment. Then he slips a finger beneath your underwear, pulling the elastic away from your body only to have it snap in place again.
“What do you want?” you ask, lips right by his ear.
“You,” he whispers. Hands at your waist now, he hugs you impossibly closer. Marcus ruts his hips into yours, breathing heavy. “Fuck…please.”
“If you want me, you have me,” you say.
Marcus pushes you back onto the bed with a little force, following you down. He meets you at the mouth, kissing you before trailing off to your cheek. He presses his lips against your jaw, down to your neck and collarbone. Through the material of your top, he kisses at your chest. Marcus bypasses your torso to mouth at the place where the bottom hem of your shirt and the cotton waistline of your skirt meet. He pulls your shirt up where it’s tucked against your stomach, kissing your belly. You giggle when he licks at the skin, tongue warm.
“Have I ever told you how much I love your new job?” he mumbles into your stomach.
“Hmmm. A little bit,” you say. Marcus nips at the skin over your ribs, making his way up your chest. You gasp quietly, continuing, “Said something about…you like seeing me happy at work.”
“Only part of it,” he says. Marcus has your shirt pushed up to your throat, bra on display for him. He slides a hand beneath you to unclasp the back. It releases from your body easily, letting him push it up and away from your breasts. You’re sure you look ridiculous swamped with clothes at the neck, but Marcus doesn’t seem to notice or care. He’s mesmerized with the pattern of your skin.
“What’s the other part, then?” you ask, trying to keep a straight face as he gently pinches at one of your nipples.
“You wear all these cute little outfits…the skirts, the stockings, the heels.” Leaning over, Marcus takes that nipple into his mouth, sucking harshly.
“You like the clothes?”
“You look so good. I can’t help myself. Just wanna—” He interrupts himself, resting his face in the valley between your breasts. Marcus takes a deep breath, inhaling the scent of you. “Just wanna bend you over the kitchen counter when I see you get home, take you right then and there.”
“Yeah?” you ask. Rubbing your thighs together does little to relieve the growing ache between them. Picturing your cheek laying against the cool countertop as Marcus hikes up your skirt at a moment’s notice is dangerous. “We should try it out sometime.”
Marcus pauses for a split second, brain registering what you’ve said.
“You’re going to kill me,” he says.
His fingers work to find the clasp of your skirt, unlatching it. Marcus pulls down the zipper at the side of your hip, bringing your underwear down with the other fabric. He follows the line of your leg with his nose as the bottoms slide off your body, getting all the way off the bed and onto the floor with your discarded clothes.
You sit up, both to watch him and to rid yourself of your shirt and bra. Fully undressed now, you note the contrast between his clothed body and yours, starkly nude. Heat creeps through your tummy, wetness reaching the inside of your thighs. You feel like a gift freshly unwrapped; a gourmet cake too good to eat as he regards you with that look. Marcus stares up almost reverently. This man would worship at your altar. You wouldn’t even have to ask.
He leaves your stockings on, nosing against your tibia. Light licks against the skin of your ankle make you shiver. Marcus kisses his way up your left leg, nuzzling the crook of your knee. He rests his chin against your kneecap, eyes focused as he watches you watch him.
“Have I told you how beautiful you are?”
“Today, or in general?”
“Every day,” he says, pressing a kiss to your thigh. “All day, all of the time.”
His hands inch closer to the middle of your body, fingers feather-light across the swell of skin. Marcus rejoins you on the bed, kisses getting firmer as he reaches level with your cunt. He leaves another kiss to your pelvis, readjusting to drag his tongue against your cunt.
You rub at his shoulders absently, one hand moving sidelong up his neck before fingers twine in his hair. You gasp when he nips at you, catching you off guard with a hint of teeth. You pull at his dark brown strands; Marcus groans against at the feeling. He pushes you further with the slip of a finger inside, gentle but insistent alongside his laps at your clit.
It doesn’t take long for him to have you twisting in bed, gasps stuttering as you tighten your thighs around the sides of his head. He brings you to the very edge before pulling back. Marcus noses at the crease of your thigh, finger smearing against the outer part of your hip as he holds you.
“I thought you were supposed to be making me feel better,” you sigh.
“What if I just like to take my time?” Marcus asks.
“Then I’d have to tell you to hurry it up.”
It’s all in fun. Any sense of pain from earlier has disappeared, Marcus’ soft touch drawing it from you easily. Still, your words spur him on. His finger slips back inside you, middle finger joining Marcus’ index. That little bit more, the faster pace he sets along with the slide of his tongue has you at the edge again in minutes.
He stops when you push him away, thighs twitching, breath ragged. In the time you’ve been with Marcus, you have learned that this is his favourite part. Still hard in his sweatpants, sure, but sated and satisfied. He mouths gently at the slope of your stomach, your hand at the nape of his neck.
Marcus sticks his tongue in your belly button, making you groan.
“You’re so weird,” you say.
“You weren’t complaining like, three minutes ago.”
“Different. You know it’s different.”
“Hmmm,” Marcus hums. He keeps his head halfway between your gut and your lap, breathing slow. “I love you.”
“I know.” He flicks you, hip smarting with the scratch. “I love you too.”
“That’s good.”
He’s right. It is.
#marcus pike#marcus pike x reader#marcus pike fanfiction#the mentalist#the mentalist fanfiction#marcus pike x you#pedro pascal fanfiction#fic: lover be sweet
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Ryan Donowho, Asia's Boyfriend from Houston
Anton quickly got ready, got dressed again and flew out into the street. The walk to Van Gogh Street was not that long, but every meter seemed like an eternity to him. The city was already plunging into the evening gloom, and the street lights created an uneasy atmosphere. Anton, full of determination, glided among the shadows, his thoughts focused on only one thing – to see Asia and try to talk to her. Toronto was a big and confusing city, but thanks to his determination and inner desire, he still found the right area. His legs were already giving out from fatigue, but the thought that this was his last chance forced him to move on.
When he finally got to the right address, he noticed that the house looked quite impressive, with high windows and a well-kept garden. Anton carefully approached the house and noticed that a light was peeking out from the living room window. Trying not to make any noise, he approached and pressed himself against the glass to look inside. Inside, Anton saw the scene he had been trying to imagine for so long.
Asia Vieira was sitting on a large, comfortable sofa surrounded by soft pillows, her face relaxed, and she was holding a glass of wine in her hands. She was wearing an elegant yellow sleeveless dress that emphasized her grace and sophistication. However, this idyll was spoiled by one circumstance – the fact is that next to her sat a man in a gray short-sleeved shirt, and what's more, his arm was wrapped around Asia's waist! The guy looked confident and relaxed, as if this moment was normal for him.
Anton felt his heart squeeze with jealousy and shock. His breathing quickened, and he felt his body tense with emotion. This guy sitting next to Asia was the one who apparently occupied her attention and heart. The guy leaned over to pick up the glass of wine and offer a toast:
"To our evening, Asia", he said with a slight smile. "I'm so glad you're back. How was the event?"
Asia smiled back, her face relaxed and content.
"It went great", she replied, raising her glass. "But I missed you".
The guy nodded, looking a little more serious as he said,
"I thought you'd be staying for a while. While you were gone, I managed to work on a new song a little. You know how much I love this music".
"I know", Asia said with a soft smile. "I'm looking forward to hearing it".
"By the way", the guy continued, "did you remember that we have an interview on Friday? I hope you'll have time to prepare".
"Of course", Asia replied, her voice full of confidence. "I've already prepared a few ideas".
The guy looked at Asia and hugged her, saying,
"You're amazing as always. And I'm glad I can be there for you. I know you're under pressure right now, and this can be tough".
Asia touched his hand, her face full of gratitude.
"Thank you, Ryan", she said. "It means so much to me that you're there for me".
Anton, who was standing by the window, realized who was sitting next to Asia – it was Ryan Donowho, an actor from Houston, who played faggots in the movies like "A Home at the End of the World". Seeing him in person, he felt his hurt and disappointment increase. He already knew that Ryan was not only an actor but also a musician, and as it turned out, he was Asia's boyfriend. Apparently, he had been at her house for a long time, waiting for Asia to return from an event.
As Anton pondered what he had just learned, he felt his dreams of living together with Asia becoming more and more unattainable. Feeling bitter and uncertain, he walked away from the window. Without losing his resolve, he knew he had to find a new plan of action to get closer to his goal. Anton, who was standing at the window of the mansion and still in a state of shock from what he had seen, did not notice Ryan Donowho, putting on his jacket, leaving the house. He continued to stand motionless, pondering what to do next, until he heard the door creak and saw Ryan approach the car parked at the curb. Ryan, noticing Anton's figure, froze. Suspicion appeared in his eyes. Gritting his teeth, he walked towards Anton.
"Hey, what are you doing here?" Ryan said, his voice full of menace and contempt.
Anton, tense and hesitant, flinched and turned to Ryan. His face paled when he saw who was standing in front of him.
"I�� I just got lost", Anton mumbled, his voice shaking. "I need to find… find my way back".
Ryan chuckled and looked at Anton with obvious distrust. His eyes narrowed in suspicion.
"Lost, you say?" he said sarcastically. "What neighborhood do you think you're in that you can get lost ten meters from home?"
Anton wanted to answer, but the words wouldn't come. He could feel his heart beating faster and faster. He knew perfectly well that his appearance and behavior could probably be perceived as a threat. Ryan, continuing to raise his voice, pointed at Anton.
"What neighborhood are you from? Why aren't you in your neighborhood? Are you a robber?"
Anton, gathering his strength, tried to explain:
"I'm not a robber, I'm from Russia, and I… I just wanted to… Meet a person. It's not what you think".
Ryan, not listening to his explanation, showed obvious disdain:
"Do you think you belong here? Look at yourself, you're like a beggar from Russia! Get out of here before I call the police!"
Anton felt his inner peace quickly melting away. He knew that his chance for a peaceful resolution to the situation was slipping away. The tension between them was growing, and besides, the sounds of sirens rising on the horizon were starting to grow. Ryan, no longer holding back his anger, took out his phone and began to dial a number.
"I'm calling the police", he declared, looking at Anton with disdain. "Get out of here before I do".
At that moment, Anton realized that he had no other choice. Before Ryan could finish the conversation, Anton turned sharply and ran away from the mansion. His legs moved with difficulty on the uneven sidewalk until he found shelter in the shadows of an old building not far from where he had been caught. Anton breathed heavily, hiding in the darkness, trying to calm the frantic rhythm of his heart. He heard the sirens receding and felt the sweat running down his back in icy beads. With frantic desperation, he realized that his plan had become even more complicated than he had expected.
But Anton Skovorodnikov was not the kind of person to give up. His heart pounded in his ears, and thoughts about his dream of Asia and its peace once again overwhelmed him. He took a deep breath, trying to calm himself, and reached for his phone to contact Dmitry Vinogradov again. An unexpected encounter with Ryan, who clearly had a taste for conflict, left Anton determined that he would continue to fight for his dream, despite the obstacles and difficulties.
An hour passed. Anton sat on the edge of the bed in his temporary refuge, a small hostel on the outskirts of the city. Feeling his body still shaking from stress, he considered the events of the last hour: the confrontation with Ryan, the disappointment and fear. His thoughts were clouded, and he was about to drop his head on the pillow, when the phone suddenly rang. The name of Dmitry Vinogradov appeared on the screen. Anton answered the call with trepidation, hoping that his friend could offer at least some solution to his problems.
"Hi, Dmitry", Anton was tense and excited. "I got into a mess here. Things didn't go as I planned".
"Hi, Skovant. What happened?" Dmitry replied with mild interest. "So, what kind of mess did you get into again?"
Anton took a deep breath and, trying to calm his thoughts, began to tell.
"Do you remember I told you about the actress, Asia Vieira? Well, I found her, but everything went wrong. When I got to her house, I saw her in the company of some guy. It turned out that he was some actor who played faggots in the two thousandths. And now, imagine that this guy", Anton continued, "is not just a random person, but her real love interest, and he is, like, her current boyfriend".
"Wait", Dmitry interrupted, "I don't quite get it. Is this the guy she was with at the event?"
"No, that was director Jorge Montesi", Anton corrected him. "And regarding this guy… I ran into him right away. I didn't have time to leave her house in time, and this guy, having bumped into me, almost tore me to pieces. He was ready to call the police to drive me away, and said that Russians have no place here!"
"Wow", Dmitry became serious. "That's really serious. But I get it. So you want to meet Asia without all these obstacles".
"Yes, that's right", Anton sighed. "I'm trying to find a way to meet her again, but things have gotten complicated now".
"Okay", Dmitry said after a short pause. "I need a little time to arrange everything. I'll try to find another way for you to get to the event where Asia Vieira won't be surrounded by these people".
"Thank you, Dmitry. You have no idea how important this is to me", Anton said, feeling his heart begin to beat more evenly again.
"Well", Dmitry sighed, "I'll try to make sure you have a chance. I'll see you in a day. Until then, take care of yourself and be on your guard".
Anton turned off his phone and, having calmed down a little, began to prepare for the next day. The next day, Anton, sitting in his temporary shelter, received a message from Dmitry Vinogradov. He quickly opened the text and began to read. Dmitry was offering him the opportunity to attend a closed event, where, as he wrote, Asia Vieira would be present without her usual companions. Unable to stand the wait, Anton immediately dialed Dmitry's number.
"Dmitry, hi!" his voice was full of excitement. "I got your message. Tell me, what do I need to do to get to this event?"
"Hi, Skovant", Dmitry replied. "It's quite simple. I managed to get you an invitation to this closed event. Asia Vieira will be there without Jorge Montesi and this guy. You just need to come and introduce yourself as an invited guest. At the entrance, just show the invitation".
"That's great news", Anton said, feeling his hopes revived. "Thank you very much. I don't know how I would have managed without you".
"You're welcome", Dmitry replied with a slight grin in his voice. "Remember, you're not alone in this city, so be careful and keep your eyes open. All you need now is to just seize the opportunity and use it to the fullest".
"Got it", Anton nodded, although Dmitry didn't see it. "I'll do everything. Thank you for helping me and for believing in me".
"Good luck to you", Dmitry said. "And don't forget, don't let go of your plan. I hope everything works out this time. Come on, keep me posted".
Anton turned off his phone and, confident in his actions, began to prepare for the upcoming event. Half an hour later, he was already standing in front of the mirror in his small refuge, pulling up the lapels of the tuxedo he had borrowed from the porter. The sleek black suit fit him like a glove, and he could hardly believe that just a couple of days ago he had been an ordinary waiter at an event. Now he was preparing for another meeting with Asia Vieira, and this time everything was going to be different.
"I hope everything works out", he said to himself, straightening his jacket and putting the finishing touches on his tie.
As the evening approached, Anton, trying not to think about his nervous premonitions, went outside. When he reached the venue, he was amazed by its luxury. The large mansion was illuminated by hundreds of lights, and from inside, the sounds of live music and laughter of guests could be heard. Anton showed the invitation at the entrance, after which he was led into the hall. Inside, everything looked even more impressive. The decor was stylish and sophisticated, guests in elegant outfits moved around the room, raising glasses and discussing the news. Anton tried not to look too nervous, and, trying to remain casual, headed to the bar.
After a while, his gaze fell on Asia Vieira. She was sitting at the far end of the room on a sofa, chatting with several guests. Tonight, she was dressed in an elegant blue dress that emphasized her slender figure and sophisticated beauty. Without Jorge Montesi and Ryan Donohoe, she seemed more relaxed and approachable. Anton took a deep breath, gathered his courage, and began to slowly move towards her. At that moment, he noticed Asia look up and notice him.
"Hello", Anton began, walking towards her. "I… I think we've met before".
Asia smiled, slightly surprised.
"Oh, really? I don't recall seeing you anywhere", her voice was warm and soft.
"Maybe it was at another event", Anton said, rubbing his hands nervously. "My name is Anton. I came from Russia, and you, well, kind of inspired me".
Asia nodded, her interest clearly piqued.
"Interesting", she said, placing her hand on her chin. "Well, nice to meet you, Anton. How did you like our event?"
"It was awesome", Anton replied, feeling his nervousness begin to fade. "I couldn't help but notice how gorgeous you look. And thank you for giving me the opportunity to talk to you".
"Thank you", Asia smiled. "You are so polite. The time spent here will be even better with such pleasant company".
The conversation continued, and Anton felt his heart fill with joy from communicating with Asia. He forgot about his previous failures, simply enjoying the moment.
#asia vieira#anton skovorodnikov#audiobooks#audio#fanfiction#fanfic#omen 4#the omen#omen#delia york#delia#Youtube
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The 2024 Uber Lost & Found Index Reveals Bizarre Items Left behind By The Customers
— April 17, 2024 | Uber.Com | Written By Uber
With Mercury in Retrograde, which astrologists say influences forgetfulness, we’re back with the eighth annual Uber Lost & Found Index – a snapshot of the most surprising and most popular items left behind in Ubers.
Over the last twelve months, items of clothing, luggage, headphones and wallets topped the list of most frequently forgotten belongings. But Uber riders didn’t just leave the usuals behind… in fact, folks forgot their frontal hair toupees, live turtles, trays of meat pie, tubs of surgical implants, and more. We saw a few new forgetfulness trends this year, too: Miami was the most forgetful city, red was the most lost color, 9pm and 10pm are when most folks report lost items, and January 21st was the most forgetful day.
Take a look at the full Lost & Found Index below, which includes step-by-step instructions on how to get help getting lost items back in the Uber app. Whether it’s your Beyoncé fold up fan or a whole smoked pork belly, we want to help you reunite with your prized possessions!
The 2024 Uber Lost & Found Index! The 10 Lost Commonly Forgotten Items:
Clothing
Luggage
Headphones
Wallet
Jewelry
Phone
Camera
Tablet or book
Laptop
Vape
The 10 Most “Forgetful” Cities:
Miami, FL
Los Angeles, CA
Atlanta, GA
Houston, TX
Dallas, TX
Orlando, FL
Phoenix, AZ
Tampa Bay, FL
Denver, CO
Austin, TX
The 50 Most *Unique* Lost Items:
Frontal hair toupee
Hot sauce and a breathalyzer
I left a leaf in your car that’s much needed
Two containers with spiders in them
A Beyoncé fold up fan
A tray of meat pie
Ceramic cat
Jar of oysters
A personalized blanket with a picture of me and my dog
Small rat skeleton prop
Candle that says ‘See you in court’
A fake tooth / retainer (it’s a really small plastic piece with a fake tooth in it)
Gray tub of surgical implants
Police-grade handcuffs
My live pet animal turtle
Waist beads and a burrito steamer
I left expensive blueberries that are special that I need that the store is completely out of. There’s two packages that I absolutely need.
My girlfriend’s pregnant pills
Small box containing a gnome.
Standup paddleboard paddle
Painting from SeaWorld. It was wrapped up in a roll and I love it.
A playbill from the Spamalot show at the Kennedy Center
My robot
Benihana garlic butter
Contraceptive Plan B from Costco and a BaBylissPRO massager machine
A panic button
A spear and a furry fox tail
Taylor Swift autograph. Framed!!!!
Fart sensor
Bravo Con wristband
A #bestdayever foam sign
3 feathers
Fake butt
Poster of Hillary Clinton
Panty liner and 1000 bucks. That’s all I can remember
Some lotion or my thong
Meditation crystals
Undergarments, bread, pack of ham and mayo
Cardboard cut out panda
Street sign saying ‘She’s drunk’ and a picture frame
My father’s beard softener
Big sentimental carrying jug
Paternity test
WWE championship belt
Harry Potter wand engraved with name ‘Alexander’
Large sticker with a dancing cartoon cat that says ‘Spanky Fest’ on it
I might have left my garden fence in the trunk.
Jeep Liberty engine. Please call me
I lost my wizard woman
Three Japanese ceramic decorative cats – one gold, one black and one pink. All fist-sized.
Top 20 Forgotten Food Items:
Leftovers from Pizzeria Portofino. Soooo expensive.
A whole smoked pork belly
Cooler with meat
I left the ice cream cones in your car and was worried about it melting and making a mess
A nice cheese. Feel free to keep!
A pan of chicken spaghetti
Bucket of cookies
Benihana garlic butter
Mason jar with cilantro
Church cookies in the trunk
Green lettuce in a jar in your car
Fly ass burrito
Side of salmon
Tomatoes (Don’t need ‘em back, just a heads up so they don’t cook in your car!)
A tray of meat pie
I left my pizza in your car! I can’t believe I left it!
Bowl of meat is in your car! And i need it
I left some pasta in the back by accident. Feel free to have it! It was so yummy and I didn’t eat out of the plate. Thanks again!
Jar of oysters
Small container of valuable honey
2024 Lost & Found Trends:
Seeing Red: Lost an item and seeing red? Well, that should help, since the most popular color of lost items was red.
Keeping Cool with Crystals: Channeling your inner zen and manifesting more just got a little harder. Riders around the country lost a number of healing crystals, including purple Amethysts, green Aventurines and more.
Mini Cooper Movers: The top lost car keys were from Mini Cooper owners. They won’t be getting very far in their little cars!
What’s the WiFi: There was a significant number of wifi hotspots and mobile routers left behind this year. Is that why you dropped from the Zoom call?
Getting Sensical: It appears Uber riders are coming to their senses this year, or finding them rather. From dignity, to credibility and memory, riders reported emotional losses left behind.
Next Time, Take Your Board: Whether of sentimental value or brand spankin’ new, skateboarders forgot their #1 tool this year time and time again.
Most Forgetful Days/Times:
Remember 1/21: January 21st is the most forgetful day of the year, with the most lost items recorded.
Losing Hour: The most popular hours of the day lost items were reported were 9:00 pm and 10:00 pm. Not the ideal night time routine we see on TikTok, huh?
Lost Items That Peak On Certain Days:
People are most likely to forget luggage on Mondays.
People are most likely to forget headphones on Tuesdays.
People are most likely to forget wallets on Wednesdays.
People are most likely to forget jewelry on Thursdays.
People are most likely to forget phones on Fridays.
People are most likely to forget vapes on Saturdays.
People are most likely to forget clothing on Sundays.
If you’ve left something behind during a ride with Uber, look no further than this help page, which outlines the simple steps you can take to help you get a lost item returned to you.
The best way to retrieve a lost item is to call the driver – but if you leave your phone itself in an Uber, you can login
Open the Uber app and tap “Activity” on the bottom icon menu.
Select the trip on which you lost the item.
Scroll down to “Find lost item” in the Help section, and then “Contact driver about a lost item.”
Enter your phone number to call the driver.
If your driver picks up and confirms that your item has been found, coordinate a mutually convenient time and place to meet for its return to you.
If your driver doesn’t pick up, leave a detailed voicemail describing your item and the best way to contact you.
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I Have Nothing
In love with Christina Aguilera's cover of I Have Nothing by Whitney Houston, and I finally found an outlet to write it in.
youtube
So behind with fleshing out Belle to you guys to get to know her and the chemistry between her and Neil, but I had to get this out. So yeah, this may or may not be canon for my official storyline.
Here ya go...!
-----
Neil landed a big modelling opportunity in New York.
Belle couldn’t be more happier for Neil like everyone else, and this was the dream of a lifetime for him.
At the same time, she felt empty at the thought of Neil not being at the school. He was a year older than her, and he was going to graduate soon. He was going to leave the school anyways, right?
But the modelling job made him leaving that much sooner.
Neil taught her to believe in herself. To be proud to be related to Bellerophon despite how his story ended and made her more confident in riding competitions. He made her see to go to the Olympics. Without him, she’d still be that unsure girl.
Surely, they’d keep in touch, right? There was the PMR, emails, and the phone.
As she walked to the kitchen to get a glass of water, she saw Herry and Odie chatting. Despite Neil not doing much fighting wise and that he complained at the drop of a hat, even they were going to miss him.
Though Belle knew she was going to miss him the most.
She helped him get his luggage out of the car at the airport.
“The Big Apple will love you there,” Belle began. “I know you’re going to do amazing.”
“Thanks…” Neil rubbed his hand against his neck.
Their arms wrapped around each other for a hug. Belle gently squeezed her arms around Neil. Who knows when she was going to see him again.
“I’ll try and come by to visit,” she said. “Pegasus can fly me there.”
They both chuckled.
“I’ll call you the moment I land in New York,” he replied.
There was so much unsaid, but now didn’t feel like the right moment to let it all out. They just knew that their story wasn’t over yet. Maybe there was something in store for both of them in New York.
“Bye…”
The first few steps he took into the airport were the hardest to see.
Don't make me close one more door I don't want it all anymore Stay in my arms if you dare Or must I imagine you there Don't walk away from me I have nothing, nothing, nothing If I don't have you
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The day I met you, you were working as a cashier at a trendy cafe near downtown Houston. I noticed you almost instantly. I didn't get out much so I was excited to see a gorgeous biracial woman with masculine energy at such a cool spot even if you were on the clock. You were a rare sighting and after working up the courage to speak to you, I asked for your number when I got to the top of the line. You seemed deeply entranced in your work and I was feeling very confident that day. I don't remember much of what I said, but I believe I gave you my number and then I waltzed away thinking I would probably never hear from you again.
To my surprise, you texted me the very next day. You told me it was rare to have a "beautiful" woman express interest in you and I was shocked to hear you describe me as beautiful with as beautiful as I found you. You asked me on a date and I had never been asked on a date before. Despite being almost 23, I had never been on a proper date with anyone. Even my ex-girlfriend invited me to a date at the restaurant where she worked and received a very generous discount. Not that I didn't have respect for her being economical, I just would have liked our date to be more intimate and less discounted.
You on the other hand had asked me out to a restaurant that I didn't even know existed. As a native Houstonian, I felt embarrassed to be so out of touch. Never the less, I was eager to go out with you. We met up at a Spanish restaurant called Batanga. I was very impressed with the atmosphere, the music, and the food. I battled 45 minutes of horrendous traffic to get to you and despite arriving late, you were very forgiving. I asked you what you were drinking and you told me, a Shirley Temple. I was confused at such a statement because you seemed a lot more refined and sophisticated than a Shirley Temple. I asked you if drank alcohol and you told me you had stopped drinking for some unnamed reason.
Beginning to question if I was on a date with a minor, an episode of punk'd, or to catch a predator, I decided to ask you how old you were. You told me you prefer not to discuss your age and at that moment, a red flag went up. Yet again, I am feeling foolish and embarrassed. How pathetic of me to finally be out on a date with someone I'm genuinely attracted to and they are not even of age. That is pretty humiliating, but I digress. I'm trying to enjoy the cold lobster bisque appetizer you ordered for us and I'm wondering if I should just enjoy this or if I should continue cringing in my seat. I choose to enjoy it. We begin discussing religion and I feel like I'm preaching to you as an elder of some sorts. I was instantly turned off by my own soap box, but it was nice to have a willing ear.
I'm getting a little antsy and I don't know what direction I want to go in with you, but we mutually decide to wrap things up and you walk me to my car. Before I get in, you ask if you can kiss me. I say no because, I never had anyone ask to kiss me before and I'm unsure if I'm romantically interested in you at this point. On one hand, I'm concerned about your age and on the other I am confused about whether or not my feelings are completely resolved for my ex girlfriend. I'm feeling conflicted, but certain that kissing you is a bad idea. So, I hope in my ford mustang and drive away.
You text me later that evening and I am confused about the nature of your text message. Your wording appears to be erratic and frantic. Your demeanor earlier that evening seemed reserved to almost an alarming degree. You tell me some of the things I said to you resonated deeply and that you might "off" yourself. I understood that to mean, commit suicide. At the time, I was unaware of the suicide hotline and how to best reach out for help if you were in immediate distress so, I did nothing, I said nothing, and I expected nothing. I had no way of knowing if you were okay, if you would harm yourself, or if you were just being dramatic and I chose not to find out. We lost touch after that night and I didn't think we would ever speak to one another again, but a year later, we did.
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April 2023 Reading Wrap-Up
Total books read: 5
Total pages read: 1,692
Days read: 19/30
Average star rating: 3.7/5
Challenge Prompts Filled: 8 in April; 41 total. Popsugar: 3(13)/40. Romanceopoly: 2(12)/36. CRAD: 1(4)/12. BTBL: 2(13)/52
After the Sirens by Sharon Farrell
⭐⭐⭐(½)
I saw this one in a Facebook ad. The premise was immediately fascinating to me, with the junior EMT program and the different characters all finding their ways into it in different ways. The calls were interesting; I know it's how EMS works -- that you don't always find out the end of the story -- but I'd have liked to see a little more followup on some of the bigger issues at play with the police interactions. That said, I did enjoy watching Cate learn that it's OK to change her path. That's such an important lesson to teach, especially to teens, as they’re getting ready to make college choices that won’t actually have to set the course for their entire lives. The writing style was really engaging, and I liked how this one has a romance angle but also covered issues that were deeper/harder-hitting/totally unrelated to the MC falling in love.
Prompts Filled: Romanceopoly – Beau Boulevard/YA of your choice
Skip to the End by Molly James
⭐⭐⭐⭐
Genuinely, I can’t even remember what drew me to this one, but it was on my Kindle and I was at work, so here we are. It was really cute! Held my attention all the way through to the end with a romantic-themed conflict that didn’t feel forced. I used it for “a bit of magic” but skipped the paranormal bit of that prompt because I know my tastes well enough to know that paranormal books hardly ever hit for me. Given the MC’s ability to see the ends of relationships with a first kiss, it felt sufficiently magical for my tastes. There’s a healthy dose of found family too, especially when tragedy strikes in the form of a mother with dementia (fair warning, those scenes were hard to get through, even though it’s something I’ve never personally experienced, just as a person who’s supersupersuper close with my mom). Overall, definitely would recommend, but I’m not sure if I’d read it again, since quite a bit of the plot hinged on not knowing the ending.
Prompts Filled: Popsugar – Book with a love triangle; Romanceopoly – Fated Folly/Read a paranormal with a bit of magic in it
A Not So Meet Cute by Meghan Quinn
⭐⭐⭐(¼)
I’ve had this on my TBR for ages, and finally landed an ebook copy for free, so I figured it was time to give it a shot! It’s pretty Hallmark-y – except the steamy scenes, of which there were quite a few! -- in that I had the plot figured out pretty early on, but still enjoyed the journey. Fake dating and enemies-to-lovers all in one book? Sign me up! Especially with a hearty dose of supportive family and scenes so funny I was actively laughing out loud siting at my desk. After reading it, I found out that the other two brothers have books of their own, so I’m really excited to find out what’s in store for those too.
Prompts Filled: BTBL – First in a trilogy
Sing for Me by Claire Wilder
⭐⭐⭐(¾)
I’ve been waiting AGES for this one, and by the time it finally came out, I decided to save it as my travel book for the Houston team travel I went on this month. That said, I get sick reading in cars, so there went the travel days, even when I wasn’t driving. I didn’t finish the whole thing on the trip, but I did read it in a hot tub ((sort of, the temperature was off, so it was more lukewarm, but the jets were nice and mercifully, my Kindle is waterproof)), and in the passenger seat of an illegally idling van waiting for our coach to finish team registration at the championship. Also I think I read a little bit in my hotel room one night, and the last chunk of it my first few shifts back at work. Definitely, absolutely worth the wait; I love this entire series so much, and it was so lovely getting to revisit the characters from the first two books while we explored Eli and Reese’s fake-then-real relationship. Definitely a cute vacation read, and I’m already looking forward to the next book in the series too, but there were a couple places I wish we would have gotten to explore a little deeper – namely Reese and Eli’s relationship/fling/whatever you want to call it before the book started (the second chance element of a “second chance, enemies to lovers relationship”), and the public response to the Thing That Happens Right Before the End. I get how they maybe didn’t fit the romance novel format, but it felt like those were a couple of loose ends left hanging at the end of things.
Prompts Filled: Popsugar – published in the first half of 2023
I'm Your Biggest Fan by Kate Coyne
⭐⭐⭐⭐
Look at me, finding a non-fiction book, that I already own, and reading it in three days! Not gonna lie, I picked this one up at Half Price … I think before I moved in 2020? Pretty much just because it mentioned an essay about Mariska Hargitay and being an SVU fan is a cornerstone of my personality. It’s a series of essays by an entertainment journalist, about various encounters she’s had with stars along the way. For the most part, entertaining and relatable and funny, but the secondhand cringe was so bad in a few places. Which was the point, I understand that, but I read books to escape the amount of cringe that my life already is. I don’t need the reading making that worse. Definitely will not be revisiting the NPH chapter, but I could see myself flipping through a few of them again, especially the Winnona Judd chapter and “Most of Hollywood Thinks I’m a Drug Addict.”
Prompts Filled: BTBL – Nonfiction just for fun; Popsugar – An author with the same initials as you, CRAD April – A different genre than March
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Custom Wrap FAQ: Top-5 Consumer Questions About Vehicle Wraps In Houston, TX
To help you make the best choice for your off-premise advertising system, today’s post answers 5 of the most common consumer questions about using custom vehicle wraps in Houston, TX.
Read on to learn more, or call (936)-539-4200 to speak directly with a custom vehicle wrap specialist near you.
Custom Wrap Run-Down: Top-6 Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
1. What Are Some Of The Advantages Of Using Custom Wraps For Off-Premise Advertising?
Affordability. Most custom wraps will cost you less upfront than a one-month billboard rental (especially in larger markets), and they will keep generating impressions for 5 to 7 years with proper maintenance.
Custom wraps transform every parking spot, commute or cross-town service call into an opportunity to increase your brand visibility. Research by ARD Ventures estimates that the average custom wrap generates “between 30,000 to 70,000 daily vehicular impressions.”
Whereas billboards only work when viewers come to them, custom wraps let you take your message anywhere you please. Once your vehicle is wrapped, you can park it on the premises to strengthen your sign systems and target new viewing angles, or take your message on the road to expand your audience.
Low competition, high engagement. Most signs are viewed in highly competitive signscapes, where neighboring signs are constantly fighting for your audiences’ attention. In contrast, custom wraps are usually encountered out on the road where sign competition is much lower, even nonexistent, so they tend to produce much higher levels of engagement. In fact, research by the American Trucking Association found that 96% of drivers notice custom wraps on the road, and they create positive impressions of the advertiser 98% of the time.
2. What Kinds Of Vehicles Are Suitable For Custom Wraps?
The Custom Sign & Graphics Haus team can wrap just about any vehicle, including:
Buses
Cars
Pick Up Trucks
Box Trucks
Vans
SUV’s
Food trucks
Trailers, and more
If your vehicle doesn’t appear on this list, get in touch with our custom wrap team to discuss your options.
3. Can I Install Custom Wraps On Any Surface?
Custom wraps are easiest to install on smooth, flat, nonporous surfaces, but our specialists have the equipment and expertise to work with concave surfaces (recesses), convex surfaces (compound curves), and riveted surfaces, too.
We usually avoid wrapping grained or textured surfaces (e.g. parts of mirrors or body trim), as well as any unpainted surfaces like trim and bumpers, as it can be difficult to achieve proper adhesion. We do not recommend wrapping any rusted parts of your vehicle to prevent further damage during removal.
In terms of materials, custom wraps adhere particularly well to PVC, steel, aluminum, glass, and melamine. Some plastics used in vehicle manufacturing, such as polypropylene and polyethylene, can be difficult to wrap, but this should be determined on a case-by-case basis.
To determine whether or not your vehicle’s surface is suitable, please get in touch with our team and ask about conducting a preliminary substrate vinyl adhesion test.
4. How Do Custom Vehicle Wraps Fare In The Houston Heat?
Because some custom wrap removals are heat-assisted, some people worry that Houston’s scorching summers will negatively affect vinyl adhesives. But as long as you invest in the right products and use qualified installers, you won’t have to worry—in fact, some products are rated for use in temperatures as high as 224 degrees!
5. What Are The Best Alternatives To Custom Wraps For Businesses With A Limited Budget?
If you’re looking to create a mobile billboard on a budget, consider:
Partial wraps
Vehicle decals
Vehicle magnets
With proper design and placement, you can incorporate your vehicle’s natural shape and color into the overall design, giving you all the impact of a full wrap for a fraction of the price.
You can learn more about these products here, or by calling The Custom Sign & Graphics Haus at (936)-539-4200 to speak directly with a custom wrap specialist in Houston, TX.
Get A Free Quote On Any Custom Vehicle Wrap Order In Houston, TX
If you have any additional questions, or you’d like to get a free quote on any custom wrap order, you can:
Call (936)-539-4200
Email [email protected]
Fill out our contact form to request a consultation online
References
Hubbard, R. (2003). Investment analysis: Measuring the value of vehicle wraps. ARD Ventures.
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https://www.a-zbusinessfinder.com/business-directory/Bayou-Graphics-Houston-Texas-USA/33817453/
Car wrap cost Houston In A-Z Businessfinder
If you want to know how much a car wrap in Houston will cost, Bayou Graphics has the answers. The price depends on your car's size, the material, and design. To get an exact cost, contact Bayou Graphics for a detailed quote. They'll give you all the info you need to make a smart choice about your car wrap in Houston.
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Asian Doll Defends Megan Thee Stallion Amid Tory Lanez Trial [Photo]
December 15, 2022 10:41 AM PST
During the first week of Tory Lanez’s trial, Asian Doll offered her thoughts on the case while also lending support to Megan Thee Stallion.
via: AceShowbiz
Megan Thee Stallion finds support in Asian Doll (Asian Da Brat). The self-proclaimed Queen of Drill made use of her Twitter account to defend the “WAP” hitmaker after someone called the latter a liar amid Tory Lanez trial.
“Megan is an Aquarius that just sums up a lot of the things she’s done,” an individual tweeted on Wednesday, December 14. “& if you know anything about Aquarius they lie they A** OFF!”
Asian caught wind of the post and felt the need to defend the Houston raptress. “Friend…. Ion think zodiac signs got nun to do with a female literally being shot in her foot by a midget delete this,” she said, referring to Asian’s alleged shooter Tory.
instagram
The tweet arrived after the trial over the shooting incident involving Megan and Tory began on Monday, December 12. Tory, who is facing three felony counts, could face up to 23 years in prison if convicted.
Tory has denied that he was the one who pulled the trigger at the time. As for Megan, the “Savage” femcee testified in court that when she exited the venue of Kylie Jenner’s party, Meg heard Tory shout, “Dance b***h.” She also claimed she then saw him with the gun pointing at her before getting shot. She confessed she started to go into shock at that point.
After Tory shot her, Megan alleged that he told her, “Don’t say anything and I’ll give you a million dollars,” adding he was already on probation. As for why she lied to the police directly after the incident by telling them that she stepped on glass, Meg explained, “I’m in shock. I’m scared. I hear the gun going off, and I can’t believe he’s shooting at me,” she said.
“At the time, we are at the height of police brutality. I felt like if I said this man has just shot me, they might shoot first and ask questions later. I don’t feel safe with the police officers. In the black community, it’s not really acceptable to be cooperating with police officers,” she continued.
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J2 Gold Panel Chicon 2022
My boys looking as handsome as always, really loving their outfits today ❤️
At the beginning of the panel Jared makes a joke about his accident which the crowd does not appreciate- it’s too soon Jared! But as he says, he’s joking about himself which is a valid point. Anyways, there’s a little exchange between the boys because Jensen jokingly says he was all ready to wheel Jared up the stage that morning and Jared replied Jensen carried him up the stairs. x
Asked why he didn’t sing in yesterday's concert, Jensen replies that he did sing. In his hotel room, he sang himself to sleep. To which Jared comments: I wish it was just yourself. Interesting comment there Jared 👀 After looking at Jared with an expression I can only describe as mischievous Jensen says it’s true that the whole hotel lobby was asking Jared to shut him up. x
Jared makes a second joke about his accident, and I wanna point out Jensen’s reaction when he does this; Jared jokes that he just didn’t want to go to the con so he came up with an idea to stay home aka his accident. Jensen did not like that joke, and you can tell because he goes from smiling to pursing his lips, slightly shaking his head, and then saying “next time just stay home”. And Jared got the message loud and clear because he turns serious and sort of mumbles ‘might have turned out better’. Jensen’s reaction was twofold. He not only let Jared know that he did not like the joke but - while I do not know and it is not my business to know Jared’s reasons for being in that car on that day I am willing to bet that Jensen and him had a very serious conversation about it, and that while Jared may joke he knows not only how bad it could have been but also how much it frightened Jensen. x
First, official question is: in what world do they imagine that Walker, and Jensen’s new character on Big Sky, Beau Arlen, meet? Jared says in all the worlds he imagines. Me too, buddy. And Jensen says that it’s the crossover that makes most sense since his character Beau is from Houston and has a law enforcement past there.
Jared also says that since around spn s4 he has wanted to work on a joint project with Jensen that’s separate from spn which I find kind of adorable because even when he was spending little to no time away from Jensen all he wanted was to spend more time with him and do other projects together. Says he wants to do a project where he and Jensen’s characters have a moment where they pass by each other and do a double take; which prompts Jensen to share that technically they did a moment like that when he directed Walker. After they filmed one of the concert scenes he walked on set and he and Jared looked at each other and it would have worked if it hadn't been for Odette Anabelle, who plays Geri, reacting. x
Do they have any short term or long term plans for what they want to do with their Baby's? Jared wants to keep it aesthetically the same but fix it so it’s workable because it works for filming but not so much for actually driving through town which he found out when he drove it home from Jensen’s brewery which is where the cars had been delivered to, so she's getting some work done; Jensen said the same, he doesn’t plan to change anything aesthetically but he has gotten some work done on her and at first he was planning to change the engine because it’s loud as hell but after thinking about he thinks he’s gonna keep it just for nostalgia sake and just get it tuned up.
When the show wrapped up, their props department gifted them “care packages” , which was basically a collection of little, random props. Some of the props Jared got was the Samulet, hotel keycards, some legos and GI Joe/army men from Swan Song and when he got them he went to the garage and put some of the legos around 😭
What was the inspiration for the City Grown Willow music video? They were bored and stuck in the mountains. Literally. It was filmed during the pandemic lockdown, Steve was there, it was snowing, him and Jensen had nothing better to do so they went and spend a couple hours filming the thing; originally it was gonna just be for them, something they did for fun but since it turned out so good they decided to post it. Steve is the one who came up with the idea for the song and it’s based off of a friend of his, she was a city girl and he was kind of a country guy and it was inspired by their relationship. Then Jared makes Jensen crack up by reminding him of an old SNL sketch. x
What inspired Jensen to start writing music? He’s always been surrounded by musician friends who encouraged him, and included him in their songwriting. And Jared once again shared the story of how when his brother went to visit back in s1 he told him that he had to hear Jensen’s singing. Proud hubby from day 1 this one 💕
Does Dean Jr. having the anti possession tattoo leave the door open for a sequel? Jared says that was not the intention, that for him the intention was that even though Dean was gone he was still there, but sure, maybe 🤷♀️
A fan askedJensen about how it was to film as Soldier Boy as opposed to filming as Dean. But before she can finish her question Jensen mentions seeing episode 1 of The Boys s3; I’m not gonna give spoilers and he doesn’t give spoilers either but he mentions how he saw the episode at the Paris premiere, in a movie theater, and it had been so long from filming and reading scripts that he had forgotten all about a specific scene involving a character named Termite. So he got to see that on a very, big screen, and when the scene happened what he heard was Kripke, who was sitting behind him, cackling maniacally 😂
Him and Jared flew to the convention together (💕), and Jensen being such a good husband, such a good friend he showed the episode/Termite scene to Jared on the plane 🤣🤣🤣
Before we continue just in case anybody who has not seen the episode and does not watch The Boys is curious and decides to look up the scene in question please be aware that the scene is extremely graphic, it contains nudity, a sexual situation and gore. Look it up at your own discretion.
To answer the question, Jensen says it was different all around. With spn that was his and Jared’s house, and they loved inviting people in and making them comfortable, but on The Boys he was the guest so he made sure to stay in his lane and be respectful. He says Antony Starr who plays Homelander on the show was reluctant to like him; he told Jensen that he didn’t want to like him but he does. When it comes to the character aspect, he had several conversations with Kripke and Phil Sagriccia to ensure he didn’t slip back into Dean. And says that Soldier Boy arrives on the scene in ep 4! I’m so excited, we got a bit of him in ep 3 and he’s just 😍
If they could cameo on any show that’s not related to spn or one of their current projects, what show would it be? Jared says Saved by the Bell or Home Improvement. Jensen goes with Yellowstone.
Jared, also says, that he wanted to be like Jonathan Taylor Thomas, and tells the story that years ago he was in LA driving down this thin street and there was an SUV heading his way but it wasn’t in its lane so he’s looking at the car like wtf! and as the car slowed down and came nearer he realized it was JTT, and when Jared noticed who it was he just went ‘oh it’s cool man!’ 😂
Final question! They are known for being menaces on set. Is that something that will continue on in their new sets? It’s difficult for Jared to do so because he doesn’t have a partner in crime on the Walker set due to being the EP. So for example he’ll start joking around and he’ll see Keegan go with the flow and tease him back until he remembers Jared’s the EP and then he’s like oh shit and Jared has to tell them that it’s okay to tease him. He loves his Walker crew but so far only two of the members are comfortable teasing and joking around with him. Jared has such golden retriever energy when he’s saying this; and Jensen mentions how on his first day of prep for the Walker ep he directed, he made a friendly joke about Jared thinking the crew would laugh and instead all he got was a bunch of wide eyeballs staring back at him like 😳
In Jensen’s case he did have a partner in crime on The Boys. Him and Karl Urban build a camaraderie and after a couple eps they started doing the silent communication thing where whenever someone said something that could be taken as innuendo or in a different way they would smirk at each other and that would lead to them messing with somebody but they had to be careful because there’s a lot of different personalities on that set and while some are okay with joking around others are very much not. x
J2 Gold Panel Chicon
#j2 tinhat#i'mma take a little break and then main panel time#and again i'll repeat in the tags if you look up the termite scene it's on you#mine
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History Repeats Itself
Fandom: For All Mankind, Ed Baldwin, f!Reader
Word Count: 1800
TW: angst, fluff, hurt/comfort, pain, bruises, injuries, car accident, hospital, mentions of past loss
Notes: Thank you to @loverhymeswith for the request “You're the one in pain and yet you're still trying to comfort me” for Ed and for beta reading!
Set between Season 1 and Season 2. SPOILERS FOR SEASON 1
When Ed received the call, he felt as if his world had ended for the second time in his life. He slowly lowered the phone as he tried to force air into his burning lungs. This can’t be happening. Not again. It just can’t be. I can’t lose her too.
Gordo silently slid the phone from his best friend’s hands and listened as a doctor provided him with all the details of what happened. You had been driving home from work the night before when another car came roaring out of the darkness and collided with you head-on. You were hurt – badly – but the doctors were confident you would make a full recovery.
It was only after that last bit of information that Ed took a huge, gasping breath. You were going to be okay. This wasn’t like last time because you were going to make it.
NASA wasn’t happy about letting him leave Cape Canaveral and his mission prep to fly back to Houston but given the circumstances, they didn’t really have a choice. Ed made it very clear he was leaving, one way or another. And after how they behaved last time something like this happened, they were reluctant to fight him on it. So, within the hour of receiving the call, Admiral Ed Baldwin was on a plane home.
The entire flight, Ed couldn’t stop thinking about you or about the last time he had been forced to endure a similar situation. Another car, another accident, another person he loved more than life itself laying in a hospital while he was miles and miles away. But this time would be different because everyone told him you were going to be okay. Of course….. they had lied to him last time.
Almost seven hours later, Ed finally made it to the hospital. As he entered your room, his mind once again flickered back to the last accident. Ed wondered if this was what he had looked like laying in his hospital bed hooked up to monitors and machines. Yet while he never opened his eyes again after his accident, yours flickered open as Ed approached the bed, a tired smile weakly pulling at your lips. Softly you mumbled, “You’re here.”
Ed tried his best to give you a comforting smile in return as he whispered, “Yeah, sweetheart. I’m here.”
As carefully as he could, he took the hand not coated in plaster as he settled into the seat beside your bed. Though he had been briefed on your injuries before he arrived, Ed was horrified to see the extent of the damage with his own eyes. Apparently, your face had smashed into the steering wheel when you were hit. While your nose was now set and wrapped in gauze, there was no way to cover the deep reds and purples surrounding your beautiful eyes like a mask. Ed could see more bruises stretching from your left shoulder and disappearing underneath your hospital gown caused by the seat belt. As you tried to sit up further, you flinched and grabbed your side. Probably due to your cracked ribs.
However, when you spoke again your voice was a little stronger though nasally and hoarse. “I’m so sorry, Eddie. I didn’t mean for this to happen or for you to have to come home.”
“No, sweetheart, this isn’t on you. That asshole was drunk and came outta nowhere. There was nothing you could have done.”
Your lip began to quiver slightly. “But I totaled your car. I know how much you love that thing.”
Ed’s Corvette was his pride and joy and it had taken you months to finally convince him to let you drive it when he was out of town. And while he would miss it, it didn’t matter at the moment. “Not as much as I love you. And if I had to lose one of you, it would be the car every damn time.” He gently kissed your knuckles before chuckling deep in his chest. “Besides, NASA’s owed me a newer model for years. This’ll finally make ‘em hand it over.”
You started to laugh, but it quickly shifted into a gasp of pain as you clutched at your side once more. Ed’s brow furrowed as he watched, helpless to do anything to ease your suffering. But when you saw his expression, you smiled weakly as you stroked his hand.
“I’m okay, Ed. Just give me a few weeks and this will all just be a bad dream. Everything’s going to be okay, I promise.”
Ed scoffed softly as he ran his hand through his hair. “You're the one in pain and yet you're still trying to comfort me.”
“Not all pain is physical, Ed.” Your eyes searched his face for a moment before you said, “I’m so sorry. I know what kinds of memories this must have brought up. Getting that call, hearing what happened while you were away, walking into this hospital specifically. I never wanted to make you relive what happened with…..” You trailed off but he knew exactly what you were going to say.
Ed had only spoken to you about those events one time after a night of heavy drinking. It was the only way he could make it through the conversation without completely shutting down. But armed with the steely resolve from his bourbon, and your encouraging, gentle gaze, he told you about Shane. Every last heartbreaking detail.
Starting with the last conversation he had had with his son where he had spent the entire time yelling about how much of a disappointment he was, Ed then talked about the video call from his then wife where she lied to his face about everything being alright only to call back the next day with the truth. He was still haunted by the image of Karen’s weeping form as soon as he answered the call. He then told you about his depression and meltdown afterwards, stranded all alone on the moon, and how he had made a makeshift grave for Shane that would remain there long after the rest of you were gone.
The next part took more coaxing to get out of him, but he eventually admitted to disabling a cosmonaut’s lunar craft and holding the man captive for days. This was the only part Ed glossed over, not wanting you to know the depths he had sunk or the things he had allowed himself to subject the other man to, but you hadn’t pushed him. You had just drawn him into your chest as he sobbed, finally releasing all the ghosts of his past.
And you were right. He was still in pain over what happened, as he suspected he always would be. He had tried to work through his issues with Karen afterwards, but there was just too much blame there on both sides. He had left soon after returning home from the moon and he had started to spiral, quickly. Between his drinking and reckless behavior, he honestly expected he would soon lose everything else he cared about.
But then he met you and everything changed. Somehow, you had seen past the alcohol-soaked shell of a man before you to the true man underneath. And through your persistence, that man soon reemerged. Ed owed you his life and every time he thought about how close you had just come to losing yours…..
Squeezing your hand tightly, Ed clenched his jaw before murmuring, “It was different with…… with Shane. I have so many regrets about everything that happened. But with you… there would have only been one regret.” He reached into his pocket and pulled out a small box. Turning it over in his hand, he said, “I’ve had this for weeks, but I was trying to find the right time to give it to you. However, this just reminded me that we don’t always have that time to wait. That if something matters as much as you do to me, I need to tell you while I have the chance.” He flipped open the lid of the box and held it out to you, the diamond ring clearly on display.
Tears filled your eyes as you glanced back and forth between the ring and his face. “Oh, Eddie….”
“Sweetheart, you saved me from myself when I was at my lowest point. And you love me despite everything that I’ve done. I still have no idea what you see in me but, if you’ll have me, I’d love nothing more in this, or any other world, for you to become my wife. What do you say?”
“Is that really even a question? Of course I’ll marry you!”
Smiling like a fool, Ed bent over and placed a gentle yet loving kiss on your lips, carefully avoiding your injured nose. Then he removed the ring from the box and slipped it onto your finger. It was the wrong hand but seeing as the other was still encased in plaster, it would do for now.
Just as he sat back in the chair, your nurse came in. She was startled to see Ed sitting next to you. “Oh! Excuse me sir, but visiting hours are over for the day. You’ll have to leave.”
“It’s okay. This is my fiancée.” You shot Ed a brilliant smile at the word, and he returned it tenfold.
But the nurse shook her head. “I’m sorry but you’re still in intensive care so there are no exceptions. However, he can come back at 8 am tomorrow.”
You sighed as you turned to Ed. “I’m sorry. I was hoping we’d have more time to celebrate.”
“It’s okay. Once you get out of here, we’ll have all the time in the world. But for now, I’ll be back first thing tomorrow.” Ed rose to his feet and placed a lingering kiss to the top of your head. “Now, get some sleep, soon-to-be-Mrs. Baldwin.”
“Good night, Admiral Baldwin.”
The nurse began to usher Ed out but just as he got to the doorway, he glanced back at you one last time. Your eyes were fixed on the ring which you twirled softly as you bit your lip to keep the smile from overwhelming your face. Suddenly, Ed had a flash of you walking down the aisle towards him in a flowing white gown and that same smile on your face. Despite all the majesties of the cosmos he had seen over the years, that image of you was the most beautiful thing he had ever seen. And he was one step closer to that day. Because you were here, you were going to be okay, and you were finally going to be his. With one last smile, Ed stepped out into the hall and closed the door behind him.
Taglist: @loverhymeswith, @babblydrabbly, @sociiallydiisoriiented, @mayhem24-7forever, @lovearne, @ed-baldwin, @lacontroller1991, @bewitchedignition, @sunshineflowerchild789, @merlehs, @pansexualwitchwhoneedstherapy, @heresathreebee, @fairchildflag, @skvatnavle
#fic#ed baldwin#ed baldwin x reader#ed baldwin x f!reader#joel kinnaman#f!reader#for all mankind#angst#hurt & comfort#hurt and comfort#hurt/comfort#car accident tw#hospital tw#bruises tw#injuries tw#pain tw
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History Repeats Itself
Fandom: For All Mankind, Ed Baldwin, f!Reader
Word Count: 1800
TW: angst, fluff, hurt/comfort, pain, bruises, injuries, car accident, hospital, mentions of past loss
Notes: Thank you to @loverhymeswith for the request “You're the one in pain and yet you're still trying to comfort me” for Ed and for beta reading!
Set between Season 1 and Season 2. SPOILERS FOR SEASON 1
When Ed received the call, he felt as if his world had ended for the second time in his life. He slowly lowered the phone as he tried to force air into his burning lungs. This can’t be happening. Not again. It just can’t be. I can’t lose her too.
Gordo silently slid the phone from his best friend’s hands and listened as a doctor provided him with all the details of what happened. You had been driving home from work the night before when another car came roaring out of the darkness and collided with you head-on. You were hurt – badly – but the doctors were confident you would make a full recovery.
It was only after that last bit of information that Ed took a huge, gasping breath. You were going to be okay. This wasn’t like last time because you were going to make it.
NASA wasn’t happy about letting him leave Cape Canaveral and his mission prep to fly back to Houston but given the circumstances they didn’t really have a choice. Ed made it very clear he was leaving, one way or another. And after how they behaved last time something like this happened, they were reluctant to fight him on it. So, within the hour of receiving the call, Admiral Ed Baldwin was on a plane home.
The entire flight, Ed couldn’t stop thinking about you or about the last time he had been forced to endure a similar situation. Another car, another accident, another person he loved more than life itself laying in a hospital while he was miles and miles away. But this time would be different because everyone told him you were going to be okay. Of course….. they had lied to him last time.
Almost seven hours later, Ed finally made it to the hospital. As he entered your room, his mind once again flickered back to the last accident. Ed wondered if this was what he had looked like laying in his hospital bed hooked up to monitors and machines. Yet while he never opened his eyes again after his accident, yours flickered open as Ed approached the bed, a tired smile weakly pulling at your lips. Softly you mumbled, “You’re here.”
Ed tried his best to give you a comforting smile in return as he whispered, “Yeah, sweetheart. I’m here.”
As carefully as he could, he took the hand not coated in plaster as he settled into the seat beside your bed. Though he had been briefed on your injuries before he arrived, Ed was horrified to see the extent of the damage with his own eyes. Apparently, your face had smashed into the steering wheel when you were hit. While your nose was now set and wrapped in gauze, there was no way to cover the deep reds and purples surrounding your beautiful eyes like a mask. Ed could see more bruises stretching from your left shoulder and disappearing underneath your hospital gown caused by the seat belt. As you tried to sit up further, you flinched and grabbed your side. Probably due to your cracked ribs.
However, when you spoke again your voice was a little stronger though nasally and hoarse. “I’m so sorry, Eddie. I didn’t mean for this to happen or for you to have to come home.”
“No, sweetheart, this isn’t on you. That asshole was drunk and came outta nowhere. There was nothing you could have done.”
Your lip began to quiver slightly. “But I totaled your car. I know how much you love that thing.”
Ed’s Corvette was his pride and joy and it had taken you months to finally convince him to let you drive it when he was out of town. And while he would miss it, it didn’t matter at the moment. “Not as much as I love you. And if I had to lose one of you, it would be the car every damn time.” He gently kissed your knuckles before chuckling deep in his chest. “Besides, NASA’s owed me a newer model for years. This’ll finally make ‘em hand it over.”
You started to laugh, but it quickly shifted into a gasp of pain as you clutched at your side once more. Ed’s brow furrowed as he watched, helpless to do anything to ease your suffering. But when you saw his expression, you smiled weakly as you stroked his hand.
“I’m okay, Ed. Just give me a few weeks and this will all just be a bad dream. Everything’s going to be okay, I promise.”
Ed scoffed softly as he ran his hand through his hair. “You're the one in pain and yet you're still trying to comfort me.”
“Not all pain is physical, Ed.” Your eyes searched his face for a moment before you said, “I’m so sorry. I know what kinds of memories this must have brought up. Getting that call, hearing what happened while you were away, walking into this hospital specifically. I never wanted to make you relive what happened with…..” You trailed off but he knew exactly what you were going to say.
Ed had only spoken to you about those events one time after a night of heavy drinking. It was the only way he could make it through the conversation without completely shutting down. But armed with the steely resolve from his bourbon, and your encouraging, gentle gaze, he told you about Shane. Every last heartbreaking detail.
Starting with the last conversation he had had with his son where he had spent the entire time yelling about how much of a disappointment he was, Ed then talked about the video call from his then wife where she lied to his face about everything being alright only to call back the next day with the truth. He was still haunted by the image of Karen’s weeping form as soon as he answered the call. He then told you about his depression and meltdown afterwards, stranded all alone on the moon, and how he had made a makeshift grave for Shane that would remain there long after the rest of you were gone.
The next part took more coaxing to get out of him, but he eventually admitted to disabling a cosmonaut’s lunar craft and holding the man captive for days. This was the only part Ed glossed over, not wanting you to know the depths he had sunk or the things he had allowed himself to subject the other man to, but you hadn’t pushed him. You had just drawn him into your chest as he sobbed, finally releasing all the ghosts of his past.
And you were right. He was still in pain over what happened, as he suspected he always would be. He had tried to work through his issues with Karen afterwards, but there was just too much blame there on both sides. He had left soon after returning home from the moon and he had started to spiral, quickly. Between his drinking and reckless behavior, he honestly expected he would soon lose everything else he cared about.
But then he met you and everything changed. Somehow, you had seen past the alcohol-soaked shell of a man before you to the true man underneath. And through your persistence, that man soon reemerged. Ed owed you his life and every time he thought about how close you had just come to losing yours…..
Squeezing your hand tightly, Ed clenched his jaw before murmuring, “It was different with…… with Shane. I have so many regrets about everything that happened. But with you… there would have only been one regret.” He reached into his pocket and pulled out a small box. Turning it over in his hand, he said, “I’ve had this for weeks, but I was trying to find the right time to give it to you. However, this just reminded me that we don’t always have that time to wait. That if something matters as much as you do to me, I need to tell you while I have the chance.” He flipped open the lid of the box and held it out to you, the diamond ring clearly on display.
Tears filled your eyes as you glanced back and forth between the ring and his face. “Oh, Eddie….”
“Sweetheart, you saved me from myself when I was at my lowest point. And you love me despite everything that I’ve done. I still have no idea what you see in me but, if you’ll have me, I’d love nothing more in this, or any other world, for you to become my wife. What do you say?”
“Is that really even a question? Of course I’ll marry you!”
Smiling like a fool, Ed bent over and placed a gentle yet loving kiss on your lips, carefully avoiding your injured nose. Then he removed the ring from the box and slipped it onto your finger. It was the wrong hand but seeing as the other was still encased in plaster, it would do for now.
Just as he sat back in the chair, your nurse came in. She was startled to see Ed sitting next to you. “Oh! Excuse me sir, but visiting hours are over for the day. You’ll have to leave.”
“It’s okay. This is my fiancée.” You shot Ed a brilliant smile at the word, and he returned it tenfold.
But the nurse shook her head. “I’m sorry but you’re still in intensive care so there are no exceptions. However, he can come back at 8 am tomorrow.”
You sighed as you turned to Ed. “I’m sorry. I was hoping we’d have more time to celebrate.”
“It’s okay. Once you get out of here, we’ll have all the time in the world. But for now, I’ll be back first thing tomorrow.” Ed rose to his feet and placed a lingering kiss to the top of your head. “Now, get some sleep, soon-to-be-Mrs. Baldwin.”
“Good night, Admiral Baldwin.”
The nurse began to usher Ed out but just as he got to the doorway, he glanced back at you one last time. Your eyes were fixed on the ring which you twirled softly as you bit your lip to keep the smile from overwhelming your face. Suddenly, Ed had a flash of you walking down the aisle towards him in a flowing white gown and that same smile on your face. Despite all the majesties of the cosmos he had seen over the years, that image of you was the most beautiful thing he had ever seen. And he was one step closer to that day. Because you were here, you were going to be okay, and you were finally going to be his. With one last smile, Ed stepped out into the hall and closed the door behind him.
Taglist: @dumb-fawkin-bitch, @nik2blog, @shirley2996
#sfw repost#fic#ed baldwin#ed baldwin x reader#ed baldwin x f!reader#joel kinnaman#f!reader#for all mankind#angst#hurt & comfort#hurt and comfort#hurt/comfort#car accident tw#hospital tw#bruises tw#injuries tw#mentions of past loss#pain tw
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better half of me [lexie grey]
lexie grey x fem reader
requested: hi there can I request a Lexie grey x fem reader imagine where reader is marks sister and moves from Houston where she was working previously and gets a job in Seattle so when she arrives she flirts and sleeps around with all the nurses, but then she meets Lexie and falls deeply in love with her and stops sleeping around and tries to pursue Lexie but one day sees her and mark in bed together so she starts sleeping around again, and when the plain crashes Lexie makes it out alive, because reader saved her and when they get back reader confesses to Lexie, and if it’s possible could u write a time skip where they have a bunch of kids and are happily married?
trigger warning: slight mention of alcohol addiction
*not my gif*
You don’t remember what happened on that plane. How you guys got in the middle of the woods with your plane split in half. Everything was blurry, but you saw mostly everyone: Meredith, Cristina, Arizona, your brother Mark, and Lexie?
Wait...where’s Lexie?
You immediately shot up, ignoring the pain that you felt in the right side of your body. You tried walking normally when you started to limp.
“Woah, woah, Y/N!” Mark comes over and you finally look at your foot and hand.
Your hand was impaled by the pieces of the plane metal. It was numb. Your whole hand was numb, but you didn’t care about that. So was your foot, you couldn’t feel it. But you didn’t care, all you cared about was trying to find Lexie.
“Y/N, we need to get that out of your hand. It’ll cause serious damage,” he tried to stop you from whatever you were doing.
“No, I can’t. I got to-I got to find,” you start to say, but trail off.
He sits you down on the mulch ground before you can protest, “This is going to hurt,” he whispers.
He pulled the metal plane out before you could even realize what was happening. You let out a piercing scream, he immediately ripped a piece of fabric from his scrubs and wrapped it around your hand.
Before you knew it he did the same thing with your foot, “You need to rest Y/N,” he told you, but you shook your head, pushing him away.
“No! Where’s, where’s-” you start to say again.
“Lexie!” Meredith scream and your head shot towards the sound of her name like a deer hearing the softest of footsteps.
You ran towards her to see her trapped over a piece of hunky plane metal. Her breathing was heavy as she couldn’t move.
“Y/N, is that you?” she whispered.
You nodded, immediately lying down on the floor next to her, “Yeah, yeah. It’s me. I’m right here,”
“I’m gonna die,” she whispered.
You shook your head quickly, “No, no! You are not dying. I am going to save you, do you understand?”
You started to get up from the ground when she grabbed your hand, squeezing it ever so softly. You were met with those beautiful brown eyes that you completely fell in love with. Then all the memories from when you first moved to Seattle and meeting Lexie flooded back.
“So I was thinking you and I go on a date tonight. Something casual, wine and pizza at my new place,” you asked, suggesting more to come out of the date.
The nurse had her head propped up onto her chin, “I’d really like that, but what’s for dessert?” she whispered back.
You were about to answer when someone shoved a chart in the nurse’s face. You looked to see a dirty blonde haired woman. She gave you a fake smile, “Hey, Dr. Grey?” you looked at her coat, “Have you seen uh Dr. Sloan?” you asked a dirty blonde hair girl.
She looks at you, slightly annoyed, “Another one of Mark’s suitors?” she asked and you shook your head.
“That is probably the grossest thing I’ve ever heard, I’m Y/N Sloan, Mark’s sister,” you told her, “I heard a lot about you,”
“That explains the flirting with the nurses, wait- Mark talks about me?” she asked and you nodded, “What does he say?”
“Well that depends are you the ‘dirty mistress’ Grey or ‘little’ Grey?” you return the question and she just internally rolls her eyes.
“Of course he says I’m the dirty mistress,” she whispered.
You were about to respond when someone called Meredith’s name. You followed the sound of the voice to see a beautiful brunette girl approaching the two of you. Your eyes widened slightly at the beauty of this one girl.
Her brown doe eyes caught your attention and you smiled ever so slightly, “Cristina needs you to help her with a CT scan. It’s for a patient,”
“Thank you Lexie,” she said, but before walking away she turns to you, “I’ll page Mark. Try not to flirt with any more nurses while you wait. We already had a case of syphilis, we don’t need another,”
You let out a heart laugh, “It was nice to finally meet the dirty mistress,” you teased and you knew it was going to be the start of a beautiful friendship.
“You know Mark?” the beautiful girl named Lexie asked.
You nodded, “Yeah, he’s my brother. I just moved here from Houston, got a call from Dr. Webber himself and was offered a job,”
“That explains the comment,” she mumbled and you just raised your eyebrows, “Mark’s known to be a player around here and by the looks of it, it runs in the family,”
“Well, you know what they say, the apple doesn’t fall too far from the tree,” you said with a shrug.
She scoffed softly, “Is that my favorite Sloan?” you heard a familiar voice ask. You see Derek walking towards the two of you. You wrap your arms around them and pat his back in the process.
“I hope I’m your favorite Sloan,” you teased, “Where is my brother anyway?”
“I have no idea, but I heard you got a job here. You’re here to give me a run for my money huh?”
“Wait, your specialty is neuro?” Lexie asked.
“Yep and to answer your question Derek I am definitely going to give you a run for your money. Head of neuro will be mine,” you joked as he rolled his eyes.
“Did someone forget to tell me that my baby sister got a job at my hospital?” you heard his voice boom through the lobby. You rolled your eyes playfully as he hugged you.
“Why didn’t you tell me you got a job here or better question how many nurses numbers have you gotten?” he asked and the two of you laughed.
You reached into your pocket, pulling out pieces of paper, “I taught you well!”
Lexie who was still standing there scoffed as Derek just let out a sigh, “The two of you are insufferable,” she stated annoyed before walking away.
You looked at her as she walked away, “Is she single?”
“Nope, that’s off limits for the both of you. You’re not going to put her through that,” Derek stated and you let out a sigh.
You were snapped back into the harsh reality as Lexie tried her best to squeeze your hand, “Y/N, I still remember being on your service. You came to talk to me about our patient...” she was lost in thought before she started speaking again, “It was a Jane Doe after a tragic car crash and I was having a rough day because of my dad. Then you, you heard me snap at Meredith...”
She started to trail off and you nodded, “I remember,”
You were walking up to where Meredith and Lexie were talking. Meredith started to walk away as Lexie followed behind her. You posted at the nurse’s counter next to where they were standing to right down a quick note, when you heard them argue.
“My mother was born in March. He lied, he’s a liar. And I’m glad. Really, I’m glad that you found him charming. I’m sure he was delightful. He’s a blast after five drinks not so much after nine though, he gets a little weepy and mean,” you overheard her say.
You were about to walk away and find her later when she yelled, “He’s a drunk, Meredith. He probably came in and told you how wonderful you are. How sad he is that he doesn’t get to spend more time with you. You know, yesterday he told me I was his favorite daughter. The day before I was an ungrateful bitch. The week before he wrote me a check for 20,000 dollars because he said I deserved everything life had to offer because he was so proud of me. A lifetime’s worth of proud. So you can’t listen to anything he says,” her voice started cracking and your face softened, “Because it’s not about you. It’s about a pint and a half of Dewar’s. So thank you for letting me know I needed to keep a better eye on him. Thanks.”
She started to walk away and you stood in front of her trying to get her to calm down. You noticed the tears forming in her eyes, “No please don’t,” she pushed you away gently before walking away.
You immediately followed after her to the attendants break room. You looked the door behind you as she sat on the couch, placing her head in her hands. You walked over and sat right next to her, sitting there in silence.
There were a few moments of silence before you spoke up again, “I know what it’s like to have a drunk dad. You’re not alone. You don’t have to take this on all on your own,” you whispered, placing a hand on her shoulder, “If you want you can rest up in here. I can handle Jane Doe until you’re ready. If any of the attendants give you shit about being here, let them know I gave you permission. If you need anyone to talk to, I’m here,”
Lexie squeezed your hand, bringing you back from the memory, yet again, “That was the first time I saw you as an actual person. Not someone who just wanted to mess around with people’s feelings, an actual person,” she smiled softly through the pain, “But I didn’t fall in love with you until the night at my dad’s house. You came to pick me up to take me to Meredith’s party and my dad was drunk and he was mean and he-”
“I know, I remember,”
You pulled up to Lexie’s house. You were supposed to meet up with one of the many nurse’s you’ve been hooking up with it. But you cut it off, you cut them all off.
After you comforted her, all you could think about was her. How intelligent she was. How sweet and kind she tries to be with everyone around her. Yeah, she was beautiful, but she was so much more than that.
That’s the only time you’ve ever felt that towards anyone.
You knocked on the door, you waited patiently. One minute would pass and you decided to knock again. But no one answered.
You turned the door handle and surprisingly it opened. You looked around the room to see shattered glass all over the floor and Thatcher passed out on the couch.
Lexie was sitting on the kitchen floor. A deep cut on her forehead. Her eyes red and puffy as she swept the shattered glass with a small broom.
“Lexie! What happened?” she jumped at the sound of her voice.
She sniffled, “He-he got mean and he didn’t like that I was going out. He through his beer bottle at me, not just one either,”
You looked at the empty beer case next to the couch and you pulled her up from the floor. Immediately, pulling her out of that horrid house.
The car ride was silent as you felt your blood boil. You forgot all about Meredith’s party and went straight to your apartment. The two of you entered and you immediately grabbed your first aid kit.
Lexie sat on the kitchen counter as you stitched up her forehead. The two of you in a comfortable silence. Once you finished bandaging her, you helped her off the counter.
“Are you okay?” you whispered and she nodded with a tight lipped smile.
“I-I’m fine,” her voice cracked as tears poured out her eyes.
She let out loud sobs as she broke down onto the floor. You scooped her up in your arms to keep her from falling onto the floor.
You held her tight as she buried her face into your chest, “Shhh I got you. You’re safe now. You’re okay.”
That night she fell asleep in your arms. You picked her up and laid her gently onto your bed. You tucked her in, placing a soft kiss to her forehead.
“I promise I’m always going to protect you,”
You started to get up when she squeezed your hand, “Please just stay with me,”
From that night on, you decided to be better. To do better. To be someone she deserved.
But once you got there, it was too late.
You were going over to Mark’s house to surprise him with takeout, when you walked into something you didn’t ever want to walk in on.
Mark and Lexie were cuddled up on the couch. Their clothes on the floor as a blanket hanged loosely over it.
It was too late. You were too late.
“I thought you hated me for a while. Your whole demeanor changed around me,” Lexie said, her breathing still heavy.
You heard shouts from Meredith from behind you as Cristina kept on yelling for her shoe, “I could never hate you,”
You walked into the attendant’s break room to see Mark and Lexie being all couple-like, “Hey Y/N,”
You have them a tight lipped smile before going to pour your coffee, “You’re not supposed to be here,” you stated simply.
“What?” Lexie asked.
You didn’t look up from the coffee pot, “It’s the attendants’ break room. Residents aren’t allowed. You need to leave,”
“Y/N, seriously?” Mark asked.
“I don’t make the rules,” you whispered.
You could feel Lexie’s stare piercing at you, “It’s fine Mark, I’ll leave,”
“What’s going on with you, Y/N?” Mark asked.
“Nothing I’m fine,”
You don’t know what came over. You gave up on trying to be better. Do better. So there you were with a nurse sleeping on top of you and the only person you could think of was Lexie.
Then of course like it always does the worst happened. Lexie came bursting through the room, “I uh I’m sorry. But Hunt wants to meet with us, Mark, Derek, Meredith, Cristina, and Arizona,”
“I’ll be right there,” you threw on your clothes and walked right past her.
“What’s your problem with me?” she asked as you guys were walking to Hunt’s office.
“Nothing,”
“Obviously there’s something, you won’t even look at me,” she stated a hint of sadness in her voice.
“There’s nothing. We’re fine,”
“Just stop and talk to me!” she yelled.
“There’s nothing to talk about Lexie. You already have one Sloan in your life. You don’t need two. Remember the apple doesn’t fall too far from the tree,” you snapped.
“Y/N, I’m dying,” she whispered and you shook your head. The adrenaline coursing through your body.
“No, you’re not dying today, okay?” you whispered.
You started to get up again when she grabbed her hand, “Please just stay with me. I have one more thing I want to say,”
“I always thought you were-you were a player. You didn’t want to settle down, you just wanted fun. But that didn’t stop me from loving you. If things were different, if we were different,” she whispered and your eyes started to tear up, “I never loved Mark the way I loved you. And he knew that, we both knew that.”
“Stop, okay? No goodbyes. You’re going to become and amazing neurosurgeon, Lexie. You have so much more to learn. A whole life ahead of you,” you told her, “You’ll settle down with kids and a husband or wife. Someone who makes you happy,”
It was her turn to shake her head, “I don’t get that. We will never get that together. I know you hate me, but Y/N, you’ll always be my favorite what if,”
That was all it took for you to get up. You don’t know what came over you, but you stood up and you tried lifting the stupid plane metal off of her. You let out a groan as you started pushing it off.
Hysterical strength is what they called it. When your adrenaline and your hormones and body chemistry kicks in during a dangerous situation. You pushed the plane right off of her.
Then started to immediately patching her up. Not too long later a rescue plane arrived. Lexie started falling in and out of consciousness.
You sat in the emergency room as your hand was getting checked out. They rushed Lexie back to the OR, you didn’t care if your hand lost all its function. All you cared about was her.
“I always knew,” Mark whispered to you as the two of you sat next to each other in the emergency room, “That she loves you and that you love her. I don’t know why I thought that I could get into the middle of it,”
He places his hand in your numb one, “She’s going to be okay,”
“The last thing she’s going to think about me is that I hated her. I never hated her,” I whispered.
You don’t know how long it was before the doctor came out, looking straight at me, “She’s okay and she’s asking for you.”
You shot out from your bed and rushed to her room. She sat there, her hair slightly messy as she gave you a small smile, “Hi,”
You immediately ran towards her, cupping her face as gently as possible, before pulling her closer. The two of your lips finally touching. It was magic. Sparks flying as the two of you kissed.
“I never hated you. I could never hate you. I’m sorry I was just so jealous and upset about you and-“ you started to ramble as you pulled away.
“I know,”
“I’ve loved you from the moment I laid eyes on you,” you whispered, “Please don’t ever leave me. You’re too special to be a what if,”
Fifteen years later
“So mommy used to have super strength?” your youngest daughter turned to Lexie and you chuckled softly.
Lexie nodded, “She still does. Whenever you’re in danger, mommy will help activate her super strength and help you,” Lexie bopped her nose as the two of you told her, her favorite bedtime story.
“She’s like the Hulk!” your son added and you laughed before ruffling his hair.
“You guys really set the bar for love stories didn’t you?” your teenage daughter asked, rolling her eyes playfully after hearing the semi true fairytale story for a thousandth time.
“Oh definitely. You can try to beat us, but you’ll fail,” you teased her and Lexie pushed you playfully.
You guys laugh, “Bedtime everyone!” Lexie announced.
“Goodnight,” the two of you said to your youngest daughter, placing a soft kiss on her forehead. Before hugging your son and daughter.
The two of you settled into bed as Lexie curled up into your arms. She placed her hand in yours, squeezing it ever so softly. The feeling of her hand in your once injured one was comforting.
“You’re my better half, did you know that?” you whispered, “You bring out the better half of me,”
“And you bring out mine,”
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This isn’t what @memes-saved-me had in mind for this post but lol (read their tags, they’re delightful)
Thinking about a younger Billy and an older Steve today ✨
✨ ✨ ✨ ✨ ✨ ✨ ✨
Billy scratched at the hair on his nape. He wanted to grow it out; really had always wanted long hair. And now, as he peered at the other sophomores trying to fluff themselves bigger to match the juniors and seniors, he just might.
Long hair was in. Mullets, rock star manes, extensions - even the opposite. Women with buzz cuts and pixie faux hawks. Pleasant little surprises in Hawkins, Indiana, and Billy might finally indulge in that.
Plenty in this town was backwards as all hell. Girls wearing white stockings like it was the fifties. Boys and girls alike clearly letting having learned hair styling from their out-of-date parents. Two girls with beehives sat in his English class.
But it was fine, because there was plenty of present-day styling, and Billy wouldn’t get any shit at home for matching his peers.
Cherry Lane. The most backwards spot in Indiana.
But that’s okay, too, because small town people need occupations. Parties.
A cool senior with teased, black hair walked right up to him and handed him a neon orange sheet of paper. He saw others holding similar invitations all day.
Party on Friday night. Address, dress code, and everything.
Caught him by surprise, that a dress code would be needed for one of these things, but the invitation just said ~casual attire~ and someone in his Advanced Biology class told him that Tina hosts the best shin digs, often with costume themes.
So he went. The late summer evening was still humid as all hell, making the party split between the massive house and the matching yard a convenient way to start a weekend.
He’d had alcohol before. Enough to know he preferred tequila drinks over vodka and gin, but the safest way to wake up the next day was to just stick to beer. No matter how bitter or sharply carbonated some of it was made.
Maybe that’s why he heard people hollering about King Steve.
Keg stands weren’t original to Hawkins, but Billy preferred them next to a bonfire on a beach. But people were really yelling for this king to do the damn thing -
“Steve, why are you even here? You graduated in May,” Tina’s voice cut through the din.
“I live down the street! You really think you’re making this much noise without me noticing? And all of you shut the hell up! I’ll do a keg stand the day one of you dip shits can actually beat my record.”
Another surprise:
Steve Harrington.
Billy’s dumb luck had him three years behind, so he couldn’t look at that face in the hallways. Sit behind that head of glossy, bouncy hair in European History. He still lived in town, apparently. Right down the street. Billy asked around and discovered he worked at the mall and attended the community college -
“Heard you been asking about me.”
Billy stared wide-eyed over his beer. He recovered quickly, but not before Steve bounced on the balls of his feet, smug. That hair was really distracting.
These people really gossip about everything.
“I didn’t think anybody actually went by a title like that.”
“I didn’t put it on my resume, that’s for sure.” Steve’s smirk grew into a smile. Christ, the guy really had that Indiana, home town handsome thing to his face.
That was dangerous. Billy’s gut told him so, the way it bruised like someone had poked it. And wanted to be poked again.
“Let’s do this properly. Steve.” He held his hand out.
It wasn’t queer to accept a handshake. “Billy,” he replied.
“Hargrove?”
“Jesus,” he scoffed involuntarily, releasing Steve’s large hand. His weight shifted over his feet. “Everybody knows everything here.”
“Not everything,” Steve said. His voice sounded...reassuring? But the way his eyes blinked...and a darkness slipped behind his eyes like a curtain. Adults liked to call it maturity. Wisdom beyond years. Billy called it ghosts. Everyone had ghosts behind their eyes. But...he had a hard time imagining what ghosts this pretty senior in suburban America would already have.
Then again, Billy knew better.
Except, as the party progressed and the weekend flowed into a new week, Billy really couldn’t imagine what made Steve slouch a little, and what made his eyes fade out of a conversation. Billy probably should have put more attention into how much he’d begun seeking the guy out.
He worked in the ice cream parlor at the mall. The uniform was equal measures ridiculous and hilarious, but his coworker was cool as hell. Robin. Not Steve’s girlfriend, even though they carpooled to work and community college.
Steve’s house proved just as luxurious as Tina’s, with a pool to boot. A house which supposedly stayed empty more often than it hosted its own family. Steve notoriously didn’t host parties, which....seemed uniquely odd.
Apart from Billy visiting the ice cream shop, it seemed Steve’s only other visitors were high school freshman. Which was weird. That’s weird, right? Then again, Billy was ball and chained to eight hours a day, five days a week to high school. There was plenty of time for Steve to be with friends his own age.
Except he showed up at the next party on Halloween.
Tina’s house boasted a surprising number of Hawkins graduated seniors, forcing the party all the way out onto the street.
Just like before, Steve manifested beside Billy, announcing himself with fingertips brushing his slowly growing, weak little mullet. “Growing that out?”
Steve’s already heavy eyelids were heavier with alcohol. Billy had his customary cup of beer, but his cheeks flushed for a different reason. He had to rub the back of his neck to make the tickle stop.
“Yeah. Maybe it’ll touch my shoulders next year.”
“Have you trimmed it?”
Billy frowned at him. He’d heard some things come out of Steve’s mouth that were endearing in a ‘bless his heart’ kind of way, and this was among them. “No, that defeats the point of making it longer.”
Steve shook his head and waved for him to follow. “Come here. I’ll trim it.”
“You’re not cutting my hair,” Billy scoffed. And followed.
Upstairs.
Billy did his best not to look around the living room; to see any eyes apart from the ones he imagined on his backside. He followed at a leisurely pace. Not eager to be with King Harrington anywhere...
The guy walked right into the closed master bedroom. Billy stood outside of it, stunned at his audacity and the fact that no one was inside it already -
“You coming?”
Billy’s not a coward -
Actually he is. But he’s an overeager sophomore with a dangerous crush even more.
Steve dug through the master bathroom’s drawers until he found a pair of scissors in their own case. “Sit on the tub.”
By tub, he meant jacuzzi edge. Billy perched. Steve gripped his shoulder to step into the tub with a comb that smelled of foreign hair product and aftershave. Billy’s nose wrinkled. “Wash that first.”
Then he jumped at the tub faucet turning on right beside his ass. Steve laughed. “Chill out. I’m washing it.”
Billy settled with a disgruntled shake of his head. “My hair is curly. You’re not supposed to brush it at all.”
“You’re in the hands of The Hair Harrington, sweetheart. Just relax.”
His shoulders sagged right underneath the weight of sweetheart.
I’m so screwed -
Of all people to show up in the doorway, Robin from Scoops showed up with an energy that insinuated more sobriety than the guy wielding scissors.
Her mouth hung open like she had come with something to say, but then she sputtered through laughter. “Oh shit. Are you consenting to this?”
Billy rolled his eyes. “If he cuts my ear, I’m beating his ass.”
“I’d appreciate more faith from you, Buckley. I cut your bangs for you.”
Billy chirped, “Really?” admittedly feeling a bit better.
Steve intercepted with the order, “Are you gonna play music or what? I’m so tired of Tina’s music.”
That’s how Billy wound up in a bathroom with college freshmen trimming his ends and styling his hair while Steve and Robin shout-sang to Whitney Houston.
It was great.
Steve curled the top of his hair so he had ringlets falling over his bold brows. Steve, who had his hands all over Billy’s head until he washed the hair down the drain and filled the tub for a bubble bath. Billy scrutinized himself with a handheld mirror until Steve wrapped his arms around him and they tumbled backward into the wet landing.
Tina was hardly pleased to find the three of them making a mess of the jacuzzi, but she sassed a quick thank you for warding off people trying to fuck in her parents’ bed. Billy didn’t have words; only laughter at Robin putting her hair into a wet mohawk and Steve piling bubbles onto his head.
Steve insisted they go back to his house afterward. “It’s November and we’re soaked. Your car will be fine. I can come back and park it in my driveway if you’re that worried.”
That wasn’t the problem.
“It’s fine that your parents are never home, but mine will only recently lifted my curfew for good behavior.”
Somehow, he convinced Steve and Robin to drive him back to his house, at the expense of letting them change at Steve’s first. Billy had his eyes on a beautiful Camaro and was just a few more months of allowance and part time jobs away from having her.
It was his first time in Steve’s house. He had to admit, he preferred Tina’s layout and decor, but he got to wander around. He saw Robin use one of the guest rooms. He saw Steve’s....incredibly boring room. And said as much.
“A prison cell has more personality.”
Steve laughed. “Yeah, you’re right. Are you ready to go?”
It wasn’t until Billy lay in his own bed that those words tumbled through his brain. His fingertips moved through his still-styled hair. It felt better with those dead ends gone. Steve did a good job. Steve liked Whitney Houston and Blondie and a little of everything, really. Steve cared about his appearance enough to be a self-taught stylist.
Steve didn’t have a lot of furniture in his room. Clutter on the dresser and desk, sure, but all of it monochrome or neutral colors. Steve who had an old BMW, house, and surely a bank account to match, but didn’t buy anything in excess. Like he wasn’t allowed to, or something. Billy indulged every scent he got on things he wanted, but Steve didn’t.
Steve had a nailed bat in his trunk. Billy heard it rolling around on their way back to his house, and finally bent over to look under the seats and saw it.
Steve was a walking contradiction. A contradiction who smelled good but didn’t say much when Billy and Robin talked about history. Who started giving Billy free ice cream but never asked about Billy’s stepsister. Who gave Billy rides and gave him the hookup to the high-paying neighbors of Loch Nora for mowed lawns and dogs walked.
Steve helped him get his car sooner than he would’ve otherwise but didn’t ask for anything in return.
Steve, who was always available for a good time, but looked sad when left with his thoughts.
Billy didn’t take well to not being the center of attention. He’d grown up with an interrogation lamp over his head, and sought positive interaction everywhere else. He got so much of it from Steve, that the occasions where Steve bumped against him...refused him, or ignored him, or reminded Billy that he was a rinky dink sophomore lit a match in his belly. And he’d swallowed gasoline for too much of his life.
“That’s something a virgin says.”
Billy couldn’t even remember what he’d just said. He was already, instantly, seeing the glow of embers on the fringe of his vision. “Excuse me?”
Steve shrugged as he got up from his couch. “It’s whatever. It’s fine. Just showing your hand, is all.”
Billy couldn’t believe it. Steve was either the biggest idiot in Hawkins - which he knew wasn’t true considering there was a real cesspool that smoked underneath the bleachers - or he was so far in denial that Billy had a whole new reason to be pissed.
An involuntary sound left Steve when Billy came up behind him and pushed him against the wall underneath the stairs.
“You don’t know anything about me.”
Billy wasn’t some cute sophomore. He stood toe to toe with Steve, barely an inch shorter. If this is what it took for Steve to realize that, fine.
To realize that Billy wasn’t some teenager scared shitless of a girls’ bra -
Steve regained his footing, and closed the distance between their mouths. It was small, soft, and brief. Rationality should have made Billy step away. Punch him, maybe. But Billy wasn’t rational. His shock held him statuesque, barely breathing while Steve moved a hand to cradle the side of his head and neck -
A sound left Billy this time, as Steve angled his mouth over Billy’s. Where he learned Billy was scared, so scared of Steve. His body dashed rationality against the wall and kissed him back tentatively, and then earnestly, just trying to keep up until Steve’s other hand framed him in. As Steve pushed against him until Billy walked backwards to have himself pressed against the wall.
He felt drunk as his hands let go of Steve’s shirt to hold onto the curvature of his ribs. He panted while Steve kissed his throat and washed Billy’s senses with his warm, sweet fragrance; his hair brushing Billy’s face and inspiring him to turn his face into Steve’s scalp. Inhale him into his lungs.
Billy didn’t know what game they were playing. But Steve outplayed him.
#are we in the present day or the 80s? who knows#harringrove#younger billy with s3+ steve#ficlet#neonponders#memes-saved-me#pondermoniums#a sprinkling of#virgin!billy#this got long lol#i wanted to write more but i like this ending#for now?#i have things I need to do lol#i'm sorry for the abrupt ending
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Name: Charles Andrew Watkins Clark Nickname: Charlie Birthday/Age: March 2, 1996 (26) Gender: Male Sexuality: Bisexual Species: Mutant
Triggers: Death, Car Accident, Kidnapping, Abuse
Background
Charlie was born in a small Texan town of just under 300 people, not far out of Houston. It was a town that people had lived in for generations, where everyone knew everyone’s business and grudges lasted forever. You knew that the Robinson’s and Jackson’s had been feuding since 1980 because Martha Robinson had been caught having an affair with William Jackson; and that the Millers wouldn’t do business with Phillip’s because apparently, they had sold moldy cheese to them back in 2002. Which is why it was such a big deal with Andrea Watkins suddenly moved into town, and had a baby just a few months after arriving.
Rumors swirled about what could have happened, and who the baby’s father was; but Andrea was tight lipped about the whole situation. Simply saying that she had needed a change of pace and had found a job in the area. The baby’s father wouldn’t be involved. She had a way to shut down a conversation with a simple smile, and a tone that left no room for discussion. When Charlie was old enough to notice the fact that everyone else seemed to have dad’s but he didn’t; his mother’s response was a small, sad smile. She would say that his dad had had to leave and that he wouldn’t be coming back. Charlie never got the chance to ask her about it on a deeper level.
Charlie grew up in a small, cramped apartment; where he shared the room with his mother for a number of years. It was above a convenience store run by a nice couple; Quincy and Zia. Charlie would sometimes go down just to look at all the items, the colors jumping at him. They didn’t have much but if there was one thing Andrea knew how to do, it was how to make a dollar last. She had found a job waitressing at the local diner, and worked herself to the bone to help the two of them have enough. If she was unable to find a sitter for Charlie (which was often), he came with her to work. He would be stashed in a corner booth; and he quickly learned to keep himself quiet. Charlie would spend time coloring in old, forgotten coloring books found stashed in a locker; or learning how to read by going over the menu. His mother would help him practice his counting by letting him count her tips.
As he grew older, he would use it as a space to do homework. He had the route from his school to the diner memorized; and the number for it was written on all of his school forms. His mother still worked as a waitress but had moved up the ranks to assistant manager. They had moved a few streets over into a two-bedroom apartment. There had also been a guy, Thomas, who came by the place every so often. Life was going well. Until it wasn’t.
A month or two after Charlie’s 10th birthday, Andrea got called into work on a early Saturday morning. She had paused, cord wrapped around her fingers as she glanced out the window; barely able to see out of it from the rain that was splattering against it; eyes falling back towards the warm cup of coffee that sat on the counter. It would be easy to turn it down, to take the day off. But she couldn’t do that. Bills were due next week and Charlie had been talking about wanting to try baseball in the spring. Baseball involved things like a glove, cleats, a bat, a helmet-things that she had to budget for. So instead, she agreed and set the phone back on its hook. She crept into Charlie’s room, and woke him up carefully. This was a routine that Charlie was used to, so he got dressed half asleep; pulling on his rain jacket over a shirt and jeans that had one or two patched holes. As they went to the beat-up car, Andrea asked him what kind of breakfast he wanted. That helped to perk Charlie up, and he talked about how he wanted the stack of pancakes that could come in a random cartoon character’s face.
The car ride was different the normal. Usually, Andrea would have the radio on; either the news or a random station that was playing music. But today, it was off and Charlie noticed how his mother’s hands gripped the steering wheel. The windshield wipers fought valiantly against the rain but it was a losing battle. ‘It’s like everyone forgets how to drive as soon as it starts to rain a little’ It was something that his mother had always said when the weather was like this. Today though, she was quiet, lips down in a frown as she tried to see the road in front of her. It was a route that they had taken thousands of times, but right now it looked unfamiliar- and something told Charlie that he shouldn’t try to talk or distract his mom. Instead, he looked out his window. They were stopped at a streetlight, the red making it through the downpour. Up the street, Charlie could see a bright blue car traveling quickly. Charlie knew how the streetlights worked. If one was green, then one was red and they wouldn’t both be green. So, he knew that when their light turned green, that the one the blue car was in front of should have turned red.
But the Blue car didn’t stop, and he turned his head to say something to his mom-confusion already filling his tone. Out of the corner of his eye he could see the blue car getting closer and closer, and suddenly a very loud horn was blowing. Andrea cursed suddenly, loudly, something that wasn’t normal. Charlie had a second to look back in the direction of the sound; and his eyes caught the sight of the car’s hood coming right for his door.
His eyes darted around, as if desperately searching for an escape, but there wasn’t one. Charlie shut his eyes at the last moment, and braced for impact. But it didn’t come. Instead, Charlie suddenly felt like he had just gone into a shower with all his clothes on. There was a cacophony of noise happening; yelling mixed with car alarms. He opened his eyes slowly, the world spinning for a moment, and found himself standing on the sidewalk behind where the blue car had been; because now he saw it in front of him. Its front bumper had impacted the back seat, where he had been just a moment ago. This had made his mother’s car turn sharply. There had been a car behind them that they hadn’t seen, who hadn’t see the accident until it was too late and it slammed into the back; causing it jump forward. Charlie stared at it, unmoving.
A person who had been standing at the bus stop across the way ran over, gripping his shoulders which caused Charlie to look up. They were shouting something, but Charlie wasn’t listening. The person forcibly moved Charlie to the sidewalk, away from the crash; and before long he was talking to a police officer while he was being checked over by an EMT. They said his mom had been taken to the hospital, and that they would take him to her soon. They asked about other family members but Charlie just shook his head. It had always just been the two of them. He saw the person who had run over to him talk to the police, and they kept glancing towards Charlie. Eventually, the EMT’s cleared him and he took a ride in the back of the police car to the hospital. The one was a nice lady, who tried to ask him about school-but Charlie wasn’t really interested in talking.
Once they were at the hospital, Charlie got dropped off with a social worker who seemed more interested in talking on her phone then talking to Charlie. He sat in the uncomfortable chair, his legs hanging off the end and not quite touching the ground. He’s not sure how long he sat there, but eventually; someone came out to talk to him. It was an older woman, her black hair tied into a bun, her green eyes tired. She knelt down next to him, resting a hand on Charlie’s knee. “Are you Charlie?” She asked, and Charlie nodded quickly. The woman sighed softly “My name is Rachel, I was one of your mother’s surgeons.” She stated, pausing for a moment. “Your mother was hurt in a car crash, you know that, right?” Charlie nodded again, this time more slowly. “She was really hurt, and we did everything we could. But we weren’t able to save her. She died. I’m very sorry.”
Rachel may have said something else after that, but Charlie wouldn’t know. He was caught on the word ‘died’. He had heard that before. When his fish, Greg, was found floating at the top of his bowl. Or when he had noticed that Mr. Jenkins had stopped coming out to water the plants and he had asked his mother about it. She had tucked a piece of golden hair behind her ear and nodded-moving to sit down next to him. Andrea had explained that Mr. Jenkins had died, and that it meant that he wasn’t coming back. If his mom had died, that meant that she wasn’t coming back? But he had just seen her. They had just been talking about pancakes. The emotions that had been kept at bay by the fear and uncertainty of everything were released and he felt the tears start to fall down his face as his breathing quickened.
The doctor in front of him moved, allowing the social worker to move into her space to talk to him. She was saying words, but Charlie couldn’t focus enough to understand them. It all sounded underwater to him. She kept trying to talk to him, trying to move into his eye line and he just didn’t want to deal with it. Charlie shook his head, wiping his eyes with the back of his hand. She was too close, there was no way out. He felt his pulse quicken and his eyes darted around the room. They landed on a spot by the door. He shut his eyes again, mostly so he didn’t have to look at the social worker when he suddenly heard a gasp. Charlie’s eyes opened, and again he felt a sense of dizziness-like he had stood up too fast- and widened when he realized that he was now standing in the spot by the door. The chair he had been in sat vacant and the doctor stared at him, hand raised to her lips.
He probably should have run. Probably could’ve too. But he just stood where he was, and kept looking between the chair where he had been and where he stood now. It didn’t make sense. Charlie could see the social worker on the phone in the corner, staring at him with a look of fear, which confused Charlie even more. It wasn’t long before two men came into the room. Charlie didn’t even have time to open his mouth before he felt a prick and burn of a needle go into his shoulder and the world fell into darkness.
When he opened them, he was in a hospital bed, and there was a nurse writing something down. She noticed that he was awake and smiled softly. Asked him if he had ever heard of the word ‘mutant’. Charlie frowned. He had heard it on the news before, and in hushed tones of grown-ups, but other than that, not really. She nodded and lightly touched his shoulder, but didn’t offer anything else.
A few hours later, a few new people came through. Said they were apart of KAPPA Institute, and that they had been told that there was someone here who fit what they were looking for. The doctor nodded, and signed some of the papers they had with them, while the nurse came up and injected something into Charlie’s IV; saying something about helping him sleep. Charlie didn’t get to ask anything else before the world blurred and darkened again. This time, when he woke up, he was in a much different place. A place that he would quickly learn was not safe. It would be another 15 years before he was able to see the outside world again. In that time, Charlie lost any sort of innocence that he had once held. His mind and body both scarred by his time there. When he was finally able to escape, and go outside the concrete walls, he almost forgot how to breath. He wasn’t the same person who had entered those doors all those years ago, and it felt weird sharing the same last name. That life he had been living was far removed from who Charlie was now. So he picked a name that he saw on a street sign to go by now, and that was the end of it.
He’s been out almost a year now, and he’s still adjusting. Most nights, he wakes up in the middle of the night, heart pounding from a nightmare. He’s found work as a bartender, the loud noises and busy work flow help keep his mind occupied. Working a second job as a mechanic helps to keep his hands busy, and offers him an environment where he can just zone out. Charlie’s just trying to get used to being a person rather than a subject again, and sometimes that’s harder then he would like to admit.
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