#I SEE BOTH OF YOU ON MY DASHBOARD FOR MATT ALL THE TIME

[sweetangelgirl7]

𝐰𝐞𝐭 𝐡𝐨𝐭 𝐚𝐦𝐞𝐫𝐢𝐜𝐚𝐧 𝐬𝐮𝐦𝐦𝐞𝐫 𝜗𝜚 𝐜𝐡𝐫𝐢𝐬 𝐬𝐭𝐮𝐫𝐧𝐢𝐨𝐥𝐨

𝐢𝐧 𝐰𝐡𝐢𝐜𝐡 you and your friends decide to road trip up to the cabin in the midst of the wet, hot, american summer. however, you and chris haven’t been able to keep your hands to yourselves for weeks. just how hot will it get?

𝐰𝐚𝐫𝐧𝐢𝐧𝐠𝐬: SMUT, praise kink, oral, unprotected, creampie, substance use, language, descriptive, recording!

𝐰𝐨𝐫𝐝 𝐜𝐨𝐮𝐧𝐭: 4.6k

𝐧𝐨𝐭𝐞𝐬: hi, my first fic & smut story! this is highly inspired by t.i. west’s “x” (without the gore, of course). i tend to be descriptive with scenery and details so if you’re not a fan of that, my writing may not be for you. anyways, i hope it’s not bad, enjoy!

the texas summer heat filled the rickety old van as the five of you drove the open road, the dry warmth wrapping around your bodies like a blanket. the air conditioner was working overtime on full blast as you had your feet up on the dashboard, your manicured toes wriggling in the air hitting them through the open window.

your eyes trailed over the words of the book lying in your lap, trying to read through the slight feeling of motion sickness coming on. you sat in the passenger seat as matt drove, while nick, chris, and nate sat in the back of the van discussing useless topics to pass the time for the last hour or so. you all had been on the road since the break of day and it was already half past twelve as you were nearing the cabin.

the five of you took the weekend to road trip up to the country to relax and film content, when given the chance.

taking a brief moment away from your book, you looked out at the rolling yellow grass of the texas plains. as you all had been driving for hours straight, matt pulled off the dusty road up to a run down, road side gas station and drove the van up to the lone gas pump over the gravel. you let a sigh of relief out to finally stretch your legs and get a snack from inside.

“alright everyone out” matt shouted as the van door slid open, followed by the three boys in the back piling out into the warm air. you slipped your platform sandals on and stepped out of the vehicle, slamming the door shut behind you. it felt nice to stand up and walk around but more importantly, to finally tug at the tiny shorts that had been uncomfortably riding up your ass almost the entire ride. you adjusted your tube top and held your hair up in one hand, letting the breeze hit your neck clung with sweat and baby hairs.

matt was busy filling up the van while nick and nate had already made their way inside of the rural gas station. you began to walk up the gravel as you felt a hand smack your ass, flinching at the touch. “ouch” you hissed, turning to see chris walking past you.

“those little fucking shorts have been driving me crazy” he chuckled as a grin pulled at the corner of his lips, walking backwards to face you before he could turn around to head in through the door.

you and chris had been messing around for awhile now but the balls on the kid never ceased to amaze you, literally and figuratively. sneaking around here and there when the boys weren’t looking, hell, even when they were, touching in passing and under the table to drive one another crazy. it started as a bored summer night fling until you both realized that you couldn’t keep your hands to yourselves soon after the fact.

shaking your head with a sly grin, you joined the boys in the store as they grabbed snacks off the shelves to keep themselves sane for the rest of the trip. sliding the ice cream freezer open, you leaned over the cold air for a moment of relief, the chill instantly littering your skin with goosebumps. funnily enough, your felt your nipples perk up beneath the fabric of your top in response to the immediate crisp sensation. a natural reaction, in comparison to the sweltering heat for the past five hours.

reaching down to grab a bomb pop, the cold wrapper felt nice between your hand. placing their items on the counter, chris offered to pay for everyone’s snacks as the cashier scanned each item. the hum of the old radio filling the silence while they waited to tear into the food. standing next to chris, he glanced down at you as his attention slowly trailed down to your nipples on display through your tube top, in which he couldn’t wait to tear into you. a smile crept on his face before finally looking up at you, your eyes already locked on him. “up here, perv” you mouthed quietly, motioning to your eyes.

piling out of the gas station, you tore at the wrapper of the bomb pop before taking the frozen popsicle between your lips. closing your eyes for a moment, the cherry flavor turned them an artificial shade of red. chris tucked his wallet into his back pocket, walking near you as he watched your lips cling onto the popsicle, imagining them plump and red around his dick in it’s place.

“damn relax” he groaned in your ear, adjusting himself in his shorts as he walked behind you “save all that for me later, yeah?” he teased, planting a warm kiss on your exposed shoulder before you could push him away, not wanting the rest of the group to catch wind of his very blatant behavior. you looked him in the eye before licking up the side of the red, white, and blue popsicle, sucking on the tip while letting a small laugh escape as it lingered on your lips. “well unless you’re cherry, lime, and raspberry flavored, i don’t think so.” you teased, taking a small bite.

“i can be whatever flavor you want” he chuckled, smacking your ass once again, sending your body forward as he caught up with the boys to load up in the back of the van. you rolled your eyes, pulling your shorts down once more before finding your seat in the front for the remainder of the trip.

⋆˚ 𝜗𝜚˚⋆

as matt finally pulled up on the long winding road to the cabin you all unloaded your bags from the van, chris insisting on carrying your things. walking up the steps of the wood home nestled amongst the towering trees, you all couldn’t help but explore the grounds as you’d rented this place on a whim. the cabin was alone between hundreds of wooded acres, accompanied by a swimming hole and a rope swing that you already knew the guys would abuse throughout the weekend.

“alright, i’m fucking beat so i’m gonna wash off and lay down for a little. we can just meet up later and decide what we’re gonna do.” matt explained to the group, before the rest of them nodded in agreement. nick and nate were already out the door and into the woods, walking the lake trail to map out the site as there was essentially no service. matt headed towards his chosen room to put his things down and grab a quick shower.

leaving you and chris in the cozy open living room area, he looked over your half exposed body before nodding in the direction up the stairs to your room. you laughed, walking past him, purposely wanting to take the stairs in front of him knowing the fabric of your bottoms would cover little to nothing on the way up. taking a step up the creaking stairs, you turned back to him standing in the same spot. “well let’s go then, tiger” you teased, hooking your finger to gesture him in your direction. he grinned and began to follow behind, instinctively looking up your shorts to take a peak of the folds where your ass met your thighs as you walked in front of him.

“those goddamn shorts kid” he continued before you could shake your head as a giggle rolled off your lips “oh will you shut up about the shorts already” you joked as you made your way down the hallway and into the single bedroom upstairs.

chris put your bags down on the rug, before shutting the door behind him. he had one bag around his shoulder still that carried their equipment, placing it on the quilted bed before sitting on the edge.

he reached inside of the bag, taking out an old digital camcorder they recently purchased. usually nick and matt dealt with the technical equipment but chris had managed to get his hands on it for ideas of his own that he had been sitting on since the car ride. tossing it aside with a grin, he decided to come back to it later.

meanwhile, you walked around the room, dusting your finger across the shelves of knick knacks and picture frames that adorned the walls. you had a window with a view of the never ending forest, which you knew would give you problems later on when it got dark. leaning forward to slide the window open, you placed your hands on the window sill and peeked out to take a breath of the pine filled air. slightly jutting your hips sporting ‘those little shorts’ back to taunt chris as he watched you from behind.

“what are you doing with all that ass” he laughed as you turned to face him with a look of surprise. “who, me?” you feigned innocence, wearing a smug smirk of satisfaction.

“yeah, you. come ‘ere” chris spoke with a low tone of command. walking in his direction, the wood floors creaked beneath your sandals. your eyes flickered down to chris’ shorts, as you realized that wasn’t the only wood in the cabin.

“these old things really seem to work you up, huh?” you teased and tugged at the waistband of your shorts, standing between his spread legs as his eyes made their way up to yours. although nothing seemed funny anymore as his blue hues darkened over, trailing his hands up the back your thighs and over your ass. chris slowly worked on unbuttoning your bottoms as your hand reached out to rest on his shoulder in approval. he tugged your shorts and panties down past your thighs in one go, the sound of your clothes hitting the floor filled the room as you stood in front of him. he leaned forward to place a kiss against your pelvis as his hands gripped the supple skin of your ass.

looking up at you, he planted another kiss against your body before slipping his hand beneath the hem of your top, one hand locked in his brown wavy hair, pulling at the strands between your fingers.

he pulled you closer to him as you instinctively straddled his lap before you could pull at the fabric of his shirt between your fist. getting the hint without uttering a word, he pulled it over his head and tossed it to the side, letting the silver chain around his neck hit his skin.

you traced your finger over his bare chest, fiddling with the chain between your digits as he silently scanned over your face. the intensity behind his eyes grew by the second as he watched you graze his skin.

you felt his dick pulse beneath your exposed core as you mildly grinded your hips over his clothed hard on. the folds of your pussy teasingly rubbed against the thin fabric of his shorts every now and then.

“you wanna be a good girl and show me how you wrapped your lips around that popsicle?” chris asked with his head slightly tilted back, his voice low and raspy as he took your chin in his hand to look him in the eye. you nodded in his hold while he glided the pad of his thumb against your bottom lip, pushing your lips open for you to wrap around his thumb.

“aht aht” he smugly shook his head as you looked up at him before he gently lowered you from his lap to your knees. resting your hands over your already bruised knees, patched with shades of purple and blue, you sat up straight and looked at chris seated before you on the edge of the bed. looking down at you, he palmed the boner growing beneath his shorts.

standing to his feet, chris tugged off his shorts and boxers at the same time. his fully erect dick slapping his lower stomach as he pulled the waistband of his boxers down.

now standing in front of you, he took the base of his cock in one hand and pumped at it a few times before you could take him in between your fingertips. adjusting yourself, you leaned back on the balls of your heels and sat up straight to reach his length, letting a trail of saliva coat his throbbing cock.

“fuck” he muttered under his breath at the wet feeling, watching you take him in both hands as he caressed your cheek in his palm with the pad of his thumb.

“hold up” he broke out, turning back to reach for the digital camera on the bed that he set aside earlier. opening the viewfinder, he slipped the camera strap over his four fingers before pointing the blinking camcorder down at you, looking sheepishly up at him.

“chris!” you shouted, immediately hiding your blushed face behind your hand.

“c’mon show me your face, baby” he groaned, as the mere tone of his voice didn’t take much convincing for you to oblige. you slowly showed your face, looking up at the camera through your lashes out of embarrassment. “there’s my pretty girl” he cooed with a grin at the site of your face on the viewfinder. swollen lips and all, against the tip of his cock.

“go ahead” he mumbled, continuing to look at you through the camera.

you nodded your head before bashfully licking his angry red tip, flattening your tongue against his sensitive slit. chris hissed between his teeth at the touch, looking up at him past the camera you slowly wrapped your lips around his cock, just like the bomb pop. you moved your head forward, your hand still at the base of his dick as you slowly began to bob your head back and forth up his length. chris groaned at the sight, his hand now holding the back of your head. despite the pressure, you pulled back to spit on his dick again, letting it trail down your lips

“fuck…just like that” he let a drawn out moan behind the camera.

“you look so hot” he praised as you continued to move up and down his veiny cock, your hand twisting at the base as the other rested against his thigh. “you’re a fuckin’ star” he moaned lowly, zooming in on your rosy features. your cheeks began to hollow out as you sucked harder, the warmth of your mouth wrapping around him with every stroke.

as you continued, he felt his stomach clench as he was inching closer to his climax before a voice abruptly pulled you both out of your home video.

“we’re gonna go swimming, let’s go!” nick shouted to anyone that was listening in the house, as chris rolled his eyes followed by a defeated groan.

you giggled at his expressions, letting a slight popping sound escape as his hard on slipped out of your mouth and slapped against his stomach.

“no baby keep going, really quick for me, please.” he whined, tilting his head back as he didn’t want to be left with the pain of blue balls.

“aw, we can finish this later” you teased, wiping the corner of your mouth before standing to your feet as you turned to grab a bikini out of your bag.

leaning over, your ass was still on full display as your pink folds peaked out between your ass cheeks. chris grumbled behind you, slapping your ass as he rubbed the red hand print on your skin out beneath his fingers.

“later you can show me how those lips wrap around my popsicle” he mumbled quietly to the camera, slowly zooming in on your picture perfect core.

“christopher!” you shouted, covering the lens with your hand as he chuckled behind you.

⋆˚ 𝜗𝜚˚⋆

after hours of swimming in the lake, you all had decided to finally get out and dry off by sunset.

matt and nate had already started a fire in the pit just off of the cabin porch as the rest of you grabbed snacks and drinks out of the cooler, attempting to dry up in the process.

sitting around the fire, you were cuddled next to nick on the benches surrounding the pit with a throw blanket wrapped around the both of your shoulders. chris sat on opposite side of you, wishing it was him instead of nick. the ember and haze of the fire rising between your eye levels as you two continued to steal glances throughout the evening.

for the rest of the night you all partook in traditional campfire activities. stargazing, s’mores, sharing passed down scary stories, and occasionally flinching at the sound of a twig snapping in the distance.

after a couple of hours, you decided to tug your boots on and call it a night. the boys stayed outside and passed a joint around, making them equally giggly as their laughter echoed through the still woods.

making it up to your room, you tugged the damp bikini off of your body and let the somehow still sopping wet material hit the floor. hanging the two piece over the headboard to dry, you wanted to wash off the smoky scent that lingered on your body. luckily, you called dibs on the master bedroom with a bathroom attached so you didn’t have to go too far.

after a much needed warm shower, you wrapped the white bath towel tightly around your body and wiped the condensation off the mirror to brush your hair out.

your attention on the brush in your hand was pulled away at the sound of a thump against your bedroom window. jesus, just what you needed after all those dumb scary stories. slowly peaking out of the bathroom, the noise had stopped altogether. you shook your head and brushed the sound off, continuing to comb through your soaking wet hair.

moments later it began again, tap…tap…tap against the window.

“what the fuck” you muttered to yourself as your heart began to beat faster in your chest. you tried to calm yourself down by the fact that you were on the second floor and there was no way someone could get up there without you hearing, no way.

tensely creeping towards the window, a small rock hit the glass causing you to flinch as your heart sank to your stomach. leaning your palms forward on the window sill, you saw chris looking up at you from the ground outside.

you rolled your eyes and let a sigh out, pulling up the window “you could just come inside, you know, instead of giving me a fucking heart attack.” you teased, sitting on the frame beneath the lace curtains blowing in the breeze as your pulse slowed to a normal pace.

“well, where’s the fun in that?” he whispered loudly so you could hear, a grin tugging at his lips.

“what do you want?” you asked, tossing your wet hair to one side.

“i’ll be up in a little, leave your door unlocked.” he cupped his hands around his mouth so you could hear him from the second floor.

⋆˚ 𝜗𝜚˚⋆

in the mean time you had slipped into your pajamas, a tiny white tank top and little red dolphin style shorts with white lining.

your hair still wet from the shower, you sat in front of the rustic vanity to begin braiding it before a quiet knock on the door pulled you away from the mirror.

chris slipped in through the door before shutting it quietly and locking it behind his back. he flipped the overhead light off, leaving you two in the shadows of the warm table lamp and the soft glow of the moonlight filtering in through the curtains.

“hey” he whispered, walking up behind you to press a kiss against your neck as you tilted your head to the side, looking at him through the mirror. his skin smelt of campfire smoke and weed.

“where’ve you been, playboy?” you laughed and reached a hand up into his messy hair, combing through his brown locks.

“i had to finish the j and find an excuse to come up here, i told them i’d be back in a little.” he muttered against your cool skin, his kisses making their way down the crook of your neck onto your exposed shoulders.

“speaking of playboys” he whispered, hooking his fingers around the straps of your tank top as you felt goosebumps at the touch. “lets film the happy ending, yeah?”

you let a quiet giggle out, as he tugged at the straps letting them roll of your shoulders. he left you with a kiss before walking back to the bed, sitting on the edge where he was earlier. you pushed your hair behind you and stood up, walking in his direction.

standing between his spread legs once again, he repeated his motions from the afternoon and slipped the pajamas you had off and onto the wood floor.

“naughty boy, been thinking about this all day?” you laughed while pressing a hand against his chest, gently pushing him back on the creaky bed. he pulled himself back up against the metal headboard as you crawled onto his lap, straddling his thighs between yours.

placing his hands on either sides of your thighs, he trailed a hand up your abdomen, taking your sensitive nipple between his thumb and index finger. you felt the hairs on the back of your neck stand at his touch “you’re always so pretty, y’know that?” he whispered, ignoring your question, looking up at you while his fingers lingered over your body.

you nodded at his statement, pushing your hair forward over your perky tits as your nipples poked out through the wet hair that clung to your skin.

you leaned into his chest, pressing your lips against his, as his hands trailed up over your ass, squeezing at your skin between his fingers. the kiss was heated and slow before gradually turning hungry, as your tongues began to fight against each other.

you tugged his shirt up beneath you before he could pull it off over his head, tossing it on the floor as your hand palmed over his cock straining beneath the swim trunks.

you continued to lock lips as your hand teased him over his clothes. grabbing your hips between his hands, he turned you over and pressed your back against the bed in one swift motion.

standing up on his knees between your spread legs, he looked down at you and your pink bundle of nerves, aching for his touch. twiddling with the gold necklace lying against your chest, you tugged your bottom lip between your teeth as he leaned forward to push out saliva building in his mouth, trailing down your already wet folds. you winced at the feeling, slightly letting a quiet groan out as your head rolled back on the pillows.

he reached his hand forward to place on your pubic bone, as he rubbed his thumb out in circles over your sore clit.

your muscles twitched at the feeling, squeezing your eyes shut as you grabbed a handful of the sheets beneath you. chris looked up at you, your clit still under his thumb as a grin pulled at his lips “hm you like that, huh?” he groaned, palming his own pulsating dick while he watched you squirm beneath his touch.

chris quickly leaned over the side of the bed to grab the camcorder from the bag on the floor, opening the viewfinder once again. holding the camera in his hand, he pointed it up at your face currently flustered from the heat.

“time for your close up, movie star” he teased, leaning forward to gently slip two fingers into you as he pumped in and out slowly. curling his fingers upward, he watched as your back arched off the bed and zoomed out to get your whole body in the frame.

moving the camera down, he zoomed in on your pussy, letting a trail of saliva coat it again before rubbing his fingertips against you.

“tell me what you want” he groaned, looking up at you as you could barely speak from the anticipation building in your core.

“y-you, i want you chris” you groaned, now sitting up on your elbows to look up at him behind the camera.

“good girl” he cooed, the curve of his grin twisting father up his face. he shifted behind the camera, pulling his trunks down to reveal his throbbing dick, now the same veiny cherry red shade of the bomb pop.

taking it between his hand, he shifted the camera down to get his cock in the frame as he teasingly rubbed the tip against your soaking folds, both of your groans filling the silence. he continued for a moment, coating himself in your juices before lining himself up with your entrance. slowly pushing himself in, he watched his cock slide inside of you through the viewfinder, bottoming out as your walls wrapped perfectly around him.

“fuuuck” he groaned out, his eyes still on the camera as he used his free hand to push your thigh down farther on the bed. you quietly whimpered at the feeling as you adjusted to his size. the sound of your low moans, cicada hums, and ironically, the echoes of the train horn miles away breezing in through the window permeated the bedroom.

he looked down at you, while thrusting his hips slowly in rhythm. your skin sticking to eachother from the sweat as he zoomed out to get your entire body and his lower half in view.

“fuck, look at you.” he moaned, still pumping as you squeezed around his cock with every stroke. picking up his speed, he pressed his free hand between your lower hips over the slight bulge peeking through as he was in and out of your stomach, now drilling into you.

“you look so fucking perfect, taking my dick like that” chris moaned nearly out of breath, narrating your film with his low husky tone.

you reached above your head to wrap your fingers tightly around the metal headboard, squeezing until your knuckles nearly turned white. the mix of sweat and water had your baby hairs sticking to your skin as you took him. your face scrunching up, eyes closed, in euphoria at the feeling of him hammering into your cervix.

“look at me baby” chris growled as your eyes nearly rolled back in your head, the tightness in your stomach continued to build as he fucked you.

“fuck- chris, keep going” you whined, eyes welling up with tears as you looked at the camera through damp eyelashes.

“just like that pretty girl. i want to see your face when you cum all over me” he thrusted into you harder and faster, as your jaw fell open at the feeling, pornographic moans escaping as he slammed the back of your head into the headboard.

“harder baby” you whined, although you didn’t know how much harder than this it could get. you watched chris’ expression of concentration twist into a smirk “what do you say?” he groaned as the brown curls saturated in sweat began to stick to his forehead. “plea-” you gasped as he fucked the words out of your mouth before you could even finish, not needing to say much more as he evidently proved you wrong.

the tightened feeling in your stomach continued to build as he screwed you before you felt a long final strain rise in your abdomen. “oh my fucking god” you screamed out, your back now arched up off the quilt beneath you with a handful of sheets between your fingers. coating his cock in your white milky cum, you let out a whine as he pulled an orgasm from deep in your stomach, feeling your muscles flutter at the release.

although you had reached your climax, chris continued to thrust in and out, your arousal now lubricating his dick even more. his eyebrows furrowed with concentration, wrapping his hand tightly around your thigh to use as leverage.

“c-chris i can’t” you whined, gathering the strength to sit up on your elbows as you watched him pound in and out between your folds. your face scrunched up and lips parted, letting moans escape through your swollen lips. your stomach tensed at the feeling as your abs clenched, the position you were laying in causing him to hit the deepest part of you cervix, over and over.

“i’m almost there baby, c’mere” he moaned out, reaching up to grab your chin with his hand. he pulled your face towards his, smashing his hot lips against yours for a moment. “ where do you want me?” he groaned against your lips, leaning forward as he pressed his hand into the bed next to you to hold his weight “inside me, playboy” you moaned out, grabbing his face between your hands before reaching your fingers up to his hair to push the wet brown curls brushing over his eyes, out of the way.

he nodded his head, as he continued to thrust inside of you a few more times before his lips parted open against yours. “oh fuck” chris let out a low moan, his stomach and chest twitching as he released before he could stand to his knees once again. his thick, white, cum warming you inside as he filled you up.

he flowed through the motions a couple of more times before finally pulling out, sore at the sensation. he panted out of exhaustion, adjusting the camera between his hands as he shifted the focus down to your pink folds now leaking with his white seed. “jesus” he groaned low, zooming in on your pussy. “look at that” he admired the sight as you let a quiet giggle escape beneath heavy breaths.

he smiled, both of you equally out of breath as he shifted the camera up to your face now flushed a deep pink “there’s my girl” he whispered as you brushed the sweat and flyaways at the crown of your hair.

“come here” you murmured, sitting up to gently pull his chain towards your body. closing the viewfinder, he dropped the camera on the bed side table before falling on top of you. holding himself up with his hands on either sides of your body.

“you’re gonna delete that, right?” you giggled, looking up at him as a smirk played at his lips, shaking his head.

“oh absolutely not, i’d be fucking stupid to ever get rid of that.” he chuckled, leaning forward to press a warm kiss against your lips. “your name’s gonna be in lights after that performance.”

𝐧𝐨𝐭𝐞𝐬: okay so this is my first story lmao, please let me know what you think! 🫣 my inbox is open & all interactions are so greatly appreciated. thank you! ⋆˚ 𝜗𝜚˚⋆

[sturniluvr]

meet my girlfriend

Matt sturniolo x fem!reader

word count: 2,294

warnings: couple spelling mistakes, a couple swear words, lots of fluff (a bit cheesy😅), italics = flashbacks

summary: Matt and childhood friend Y/N announce their relationship on his personal channel.

A/N: Matt is 18 in this fic and reader is 17 as said in fic!

❗️semi proof read❗️

Matt sets up the camera on the dashboard, his best friend of 12 years and girlfriend of 2 years in the car seat next to him. Matt hears Y/N let out a sigh, he looked to his side and saw Y/N looking nervous. 

“It’ll be fine my love. The fans already love you, announcing that you're my girlfriend won’t change that, I promise.” Matt says, grabbing her hand and rubbing his thumb across her knuckles in a comforting manner. “We don’t have to tell the fans if you don’t want to darling. It’s completely up to you.” He added on as he lifts her hand to his lips and pressed a kiss to her knuckles. 

“No, I want to do it. Just some silly nerves that’s all.” She replied, intertwining their hands and smiling at Matt. 

“You ready?” He asks. 

“Yeah, press record.” 

Matt hits record and started to talk to the camera, his hand still intertwined with Y/N’s. 

“Hey guys, welcome to my personal channel, where I will be posting content without Nick and Chris. I won’t post as often on here, but I will try my best.” Matt starts with a little laugh before continuing.  

“For my first video on this channel, as you could probably guess by the title, I’m going to introduce you to my girlfriend, she’s a girl that many of you will be familiar with and if not then she’s about to introduce herself.” He added on, Matt gestures for Y/N to introduce herself, she gives a little wave and smile to the camera. 

“Hi everyone, most of you already know me but for those of you who don’t, hi, my name is Y/N and as Matt said, I am his girlfriend. I’m 17 years old, unfortunately I’m still in high school unlike Matthew here” she points to Matt and he lets out a little laugh at her dislike for high school before she carried on introducing herself.

“I just started my senior year, and like the triplets, I am from originally from Boston and I have known the triplets since I was in second grade and they were in third grade I think, is that right?” She looked over to Matt for confirmation to which he nodded. 

“Yep. She’s been in our lives since we were 8 and she was 7. She’s known us longer than Trevor!” He jokes, the couple chuckled together at his random fact. 

“Anyway, today, in honour of announcing our relationship, we’ve decided to answer some questions. I posted a question box on my Instagram story and we’re just going to scroll through and answer some of them.” Matt states. 

He pulled his phone out of his pocket and opened up Instagram and clicked on his story to see the questions. He read out the first question. 

“Okay, first question is ‘how did you guys meet?’ you wanna answer it Y/N/N?” she nodded before answering.  

“So, I actually met Nick first out of the triplets, mine and Nick’s science classes got merged one day because my teacher was sick and me and Nick got paired for a project together. Me and Nick became friends and one day he invited me to his house after school, and that’s how I met Matt and Chris, and we were all inseparable ever since. I constantly got them mixed up until they were about 14.” she replies, Matt and Y/N both smiling at the memory of how many times she got the triplets mixed up. Matt handed his phone to Y/N to read out the next question. 

“Okay next question is ‘who made the first move?’ Matt surprisingly, made the first move, I’ll let him tell the story of how it happened.”  

“So, it’s a pretty cliche story, but we were at a party for our high school’s sports teams and cheerleaders which we both had to be at since she’s a cheerleader and I was on the lacrosse team. Me, Chris, Nick, Y/N and a few other people were playing spin the bottle and it was my turn to spin and it landed on Y/N. At this point I’d had a crush on Y/N since we were in middle school, but I just never ‘had the balls to do anything about it’ as Chris would always say to me.” He rolls his eyes, remembering all the times Chris had tried to get Matt to tell Y/N how he felt. He carried on telling the story.

“So obviously, me and Y/N kissed and then the day after at school, I left a note in her locker asking her out on a date, obviously, she said yes to the date and low and behold, 2 years later, here we are. Pretty cheesy but, hey, what can you do about a man in love?” He shrugged his shoulders with a small smirk on his face. 

“Fun fact, I still have the note to this day.” Y/N stated proudly, looking at the camera. Matt looked over at her shocked. 

“You do?” He asked, looking at his girl in pure adoration. She looked at Matt and nodded her head, smiling at him. She handed him his phone back so he could read the next question. 

“Okay, next question ‘what are you lockscreens on your phones? and what is the story behind them if there is one’”  

Y/N pulled out her own phone and Matt locked his so that he was ready to show his lockscreen. She turned her phone around and showed her lockscreen. (a/n: pretend it’s Matt😭)

“Mine is a picture of Matt from a couple weeks ago. Me and the triplets went to the safari park, and I got this picture of Matt looking at the map and trying to figure out where one of the rides were and thought it was cute.” she smiled at her lockscreen before turning off her phone. 

*flashback to safari park* 

Y/N giggled as Matt looked at the map in his hands, confusion evident on his face. The four of them were stood in the middle of the path, Matt trying to figure out how to get to the log flume. 

“Matt c’mon mannnn” Chris complained. Nick rolled his eyes at his younger brother.  

“Baby, do you need help?” Y/N asked. Matt shook his head. 

“Really? Cause you’ve been looking at the map longer than Nick was looking at the elephants.” she chuckled, and Chris laughed along with her, Nick had spent ten minutes staring at the elephants earlier that day. She walked over to him and looked at the map, trying to help him.  

“I got it, I got it, gimme a second.” Matt said. Another minute passed of Matt looking at the map, looking adorably confused with a little smile on his face, Y/N thought he looked absolutely adorable and quickly took a picture before Matt laughed to himself and smiled as he looked at his brothers and girlfriend.  

“I got it! It’s this way.” he pointed in the direction of the log flume, and they all made their way to the ride. 

*end of flashback* 

Matt turned on his phone and showed his lockscreen to the camera. (a/n: again, pretend it’s y/n and Matt😭)

“Mine is a picture that Nick took of us in the car about a month or so ago. We were going on our annual family trip and as always, Y/N came along with us, and we were parked at the gas station and I noticed Y/N had fell asleep on me and Nick saw and took a picture of us and sent it to me and it’s one of my favourite photos ever” Matt spoke. 

*flashback to the family trip* 

Y/N and Matt were currently sat in the very back on the car with Nick. Chris, Trevor and Justin sat in front of them, and Marylou and Jimmy were sat in the front seats. They were parked at a gas station filling up the car and Y/N was falling asleep with her head in Matt’s lap, sharing headphones with him and Nick was sat on his phone. 

“You tired baby?” Matt whispered, looking down at the sleepy girl in his lap. She let out an incoherent mumbled reply. 

“Look at this TikTok!” Chris said loudly, turning around to face Matt and Nick. Matt shushed him.  

“Y/N’s asleep Chris be quiet!”  

“Shit! sorry, look at this TikTok though” Chris repeated, much quieter. The boys collectively laughed quietly at the TikTok he’d shown them, Chris turned back around and showed Justin the same TikTok. 

Matt moved a piece of hair out of Y/N’s face, smiling at his sleeping girl. Matt was unaware of Nick looking at the couple with a soft smile of his own on his face, he’d always been their biggest supporter ever since they told him about their relationship. Nick quickly opened his camera on his phone and snapped a picture of the couple and immediately sent it to Matt, the younger brother opened the message and a grin automatically grew on his face. 

“Thanks man, I love this photo” Matt spoke as he set the picture as his wallpaper and sending it to Y/N, so she also had a copy of the photo. Nick smiled.  

“Of course, I’m your personal photographer.” He joked and the brothers softly laughed before going back to doing their own thing waiting for Jimmy to get back in the car after filling it up. 

*end of flashback* 

Y/N put her phone back in her pocket and Matt passed her his phone to read the next question.  

“Aww this one is cute ‘what is your favourite memory with one another?’ I love this question” she smiled.

“my favourite memory with Matt is probably last Christmas when Matt woke me up around 4 in the morning because it was snowing so much and he just couldn’t wait to go build a snowman, this kid literally had a jacket and coat and my shoes ready for me and just woke me up.” They both started laughing at the memory from last Christmas and Matt hit his head on the steering wheel as he leaned forward laughing, causing Y/N to laugh even more as Matt held his head in his hand.

“Laughing at my pain, I see how it is missy.” Matt exclaimed, he reached over the center console of his car and started tickling her sides causing the younger girl to yelp out and tears started streaming down her face as he continued to tickle her. 

“Okay I’m sorry! I’m sorry!” Y/N shouted, out of breath, softly chuckling as she held her hands up in surrender. She passed Matt’s phone back to him.  

The couple continued to answer questions and laugh with each other replaying memories from as early as their childhood to as recent as last week.  

“Okay, final question, this was asked by quite a few people ‘what is your favourite thing about each other?’ We’ll do one physical aspect and then one personality trait, okay?” Matt spoke and Y/N nodded in agreement before Matt continued. 

“My favourite physical thing about Y/N has gotta be her freckles, I’ll admit that I have caught myself counting the freckles on her face before while she’s been asleep” he admitted with a slight blush creeping up on his cheeks.

“My favourite thing about her personality wise is how persistent she is. I’ve seen her get into heated debates with Nick over the most random things and most of the time she’ll win, and I could honestly sit there for hours watching them argue back and forth, it’s so funny” Matt adds with a laugh and he smiles in Y/N’s direction. 

“It’s true, I’ll never let up if I think my opinion is right.” She said laughing with him. “Anyway, my favourite physical thing about Matt is probably his smile, his has got to be my favourite smile ever!” She said proudly, the blue eyed boy next to her stared at her with a soft expression and a wide smile on his face as she carried on talking.

“My favourite personality trait of Matt’s is how attentive and kind hearted he is, like I remember before he made this channel, we were sat on the couch together and he said he wanted to make this channel to help people who may be struggling with mental health like him and to make it a safe space for everyone. And he’s just such a genuinely great guy and nowadays, that’s pretty hard to come by and I couldn’t be more thankful for him. I can confidently say, I can see Matt being the guy I marry when I’m older.” she finished talking. He smiled at her for what felt like the millionth time this video, his cheeks started to hurt from how much she made him smile. 

“I love you baby” Matt spoke, planting a kiss on her cheek, her cheeks flushed.  

“I love you too Matt. So much.” She replied, smiling at the boy she’d been in love with for as long as she could remember. 

“I hope you enjoyed this video guys, we both enjoyed filming it. We love you. Stay happy and stay smiling.” Matt smiled at the camera and Y/N blew a kiss to the camera before he stopped recording. He put the camera down and looked over to Y/N 

“Did you mean that baby? About me being the guy you’d marry?” He asked her, his eyes full of love. She nodded with a smile on her face. 

“Of course, my love. You’re the best person I’ve ever known. You’re my person” she replied. 

He stretched over the center console and placed a kiss on her lips, both of them smiling into the kiss. 

“You’re my person too darling. I’ll marry you one day I promise.” 

And he did.

They got married a few years later.  

A/N: Lowkey was inspired by @imwetforyourmom one shot that was like this. Hope you don’t mind me stealing your idea ahah🫶🏻😅

[otdiaftg]

The King's Men - Chapter Fourteen

Day: Saturday, March 9th / 10th* Time: 3:48 PM EST

"So the attitude problem wasn't an act, at least," Andrew says. "I was going to tell you," Nathaniel says. "Stop lying to me." "I'm not lying. I would have told you last night, but they were in our locker room." "They who?" Browning asks. Nathaniel switches to German without missing a beat. He is pretty sure he earns a dirty look from Browning for that trick, but he won't take his eyes off Andrew to look. "Those weren't security guards that came for us. They were there for me, and they would have hurt all of you to get me out of there. I thought by keeping my mouth shut I could keep you safe." Nathaniel still has his hands up by Andrew's face, so he lightly taps a thumb against the bruise at Andrew's eye. "I didn't know they'd staged a riot." "What did I tell you about playing the martyr card?" Andrew asks. "You said no one wanted it," Nathaniel says. "You didn't tell me to stop." "It was implied." "I'm stupid, remember? I need things spelled out." "Shut up." "Am I at ninety-four yet?" "You are at one hundred," Andrew says. "What happened to your face?" Nathaniel swallows hard against a rush of nausea. "A dashboard lighter." He winces at the awful sound Nicky makes. The groan of a quickly- shifting mattress almost swallows up Aaron's ragged curse. Nathaniel looks back without thinking, needing to see who is on the move, and see's Aaron has rolled off the bed to go stand with Nicky. Turning means the others get a look at his burned cheek. Kevin recoils so hard he slams into the wall behind him. He claps a protective hand over his own tattoo and Nathaniel knows he is imagining Riko's reaction to this atrocity. This time it is Dan stopping Matt from getting up, her knuckles white against his dark shirt and her head turned away. Matt starts to fight free but settles for a hoarse, "Jesus, Neil. The fuck did they do to you?"

Art used with permission by Midgart. Thank you @midgart!

*Due to the Leap Year, I have opted to highlight the day rather than the date to keep the events in occurrence to the 2007 year. I will continue to mark both days accordingly.

[sturniololoco]

a fic where tough guy Matt is a little bitch to younger sister in a car video

Don’t be a Bitch

Sturniolo Little Sister (SLS) x The Sturniolo Triplets

Warnings: Tuff! Guy Matt, attitude, language, etc.

° ᡣ𐭩 . ° .° ᡣ𐭩 . ° .° ᡣ𐭩 . ° .° ᡣ𐭩 . ° .° ᡣ𐭩 . ° .° ᡣ𐭩 . ° .° ᡣ𐭩

SLS’s POV

I don’t appear in car videos very often, but Nick asked me to tonight. How could I say no?

Well I would have if I’d known Matt would be acting the way he did.

“Blah blah blah! Get to the fucking point or move the fuck on! Jesus Chris!” Matt said, rolling his eyes and slouching in his seat.

Chris stopped talking and his shoulders dropped.

Most people don’t notice, but Chris has always been kinda sensitive, even if he doesn’t show it.

Nick smacks the back of Matt’s head, causing him to whip around in his chair to be met with Nick’s finger in his face.

“What the fuck is your deal, tuff guy?” Nick asks, still pointing at him.

Matt swats his hand away and rolls his eyes yet again.

“Whatever moron.” He says, shaking his head.

Nick looks at me with his ‘what the fuck is going on’ eyes, to which I shrug.

“What were you saying Chris?” I ask him, slightly patting his shoulder on the left side, out of the camera’s view.

“I-um…I’m not sure. It’ll come back to me.” He says, softy smiling.

Just as I was about to say that it’s fine and we can move on for the time being, Matt speaks again.

“Wow. He forgot AGAIN? What a shocker!” He says sarcastically, shaking his head again with his arms crossed, staring out the front windshield.

“Okay Matt, what the fuck is your deal?!” I yell at him, tired of the attitude he’s had all freaking afternoon and into tonight.

“SLS, I don’t need you to start acting like a little bitch, I already have to deal with these two idiots.” He says, not even bothering to turn and look at me, let alone through the rear view mirror.

With that, I’m out of the car, slamming the door behind me and walking into the house.

As soon as the door closed behind me, I sprinted up to my room, feeling the urge to kick the shit out of something.

Did I do something to Matt?

-

Nick’s POV

I’m actually the maddest I’ve ever been in my entire life.

Just because Matt decides to switch on his attitude, doesn’t mean he gets to take it out on anyone else, let alone his little sister.

“Dude! What the fuck is wrong with you?!” Chris scolds him, smacking his chest with the back of his hand.

I see Matt take the hit without a word, then stare into his lap, chewing nervously on his bottom lip.

then it hit me.

He feels really bad about what he said.

“Goddamn it! I’m so fucking stupid!” He shouts. Punching a fist into the dashboard.

Chris and I stare at him with wide eyes.

I have never seen him get so worked up before, let alone punch something.

I lean closer too him and rub his shoulder soothingly as I see water begin to form on his lower lashes.

“Why don’t you just go talk to her? It’ll make both of you feel better,” I say to him, no longer mad at him.

He nods, wiping at his eyes before opening the car door.

Chris and I give him soft smiles as walks inside the house.

-

Matt’s POV

I’m such a fucking idiot!

I think this the whole way up the stairs to my little sisters bedroom.

I tap on the door with my knuckle, earning a soft ‘come in’ from the other side.

I open the door, walk in, then close it behind me. SLS/N is sitting in her bed, headphones on, staring out her window.

Shit.

I walk over and sit beside her on the bed. If she sees me, she doesn’t act like it. She keeps her headphones on and continues to stare.

I call her name to not response.

I do this one more time before I result in taking her headphones off myself.

She still doesn’t look.

I take a deep breath and began talking from my heart, telling her about how I really feel.

“Sis, I’m so sorry. I had no excuse to call you an awful name and take my anger out on you. I was an idiot for doing so and I hope you can forgive me-“

i don’t as cut off with her arms wrapped around my torso, her face buried in my chest.

I smile at her as I kiss the top of her head, smiling.

“I love you Matty.” She says into her hug.

I grab her and and begin walking her back to the car.

“I love you too kiddo.”

@idkwhosnyla @babypat08 @eyelessdemon00 @christopherowensturniolo @sturnsxx @freshloveforthefit @matty443355 @sleepysturnss @emeraldgreenbeautiesstu @sunsetsturniolos @hoesturniolo @x4nd3rsukz @chr1sgirl4life @sstvrnioloo @sturns-posts @chrisstopherfilmed @kylasrealityx @zoeysturnioloooooo @comet235 @islaasblog @sturnioloblogs @defnotayonna @mattsleftnipple03 @thematthewlover @mattsaq @idkhowtosleep

[seren1tyhaze]

road snacks

PAIRING: haechan x afab reader

WORD COUNT: 1.6k

SUMMARY: a cross country move with your boyfriend is exciting and sometimes a little more steamy than you thought it would be

AUTHOR'S NOTE: I officially present my first Kinktober 2023 entry! This is another piece I had finished but was trying to finish other wips but don't want to hold off posting things that are ready anymore. Please enjoy prompt number 16 "Public" :)

WARNINGS: explicit smut, public sex, soft Haechan who is actually not very soft

PLAYLIST: Lost in the Light by Bahamas, Yacht by NCT 127, Malibu 1992 by COIN, Daylight by Matt and Kim, Catch by Epik High + HWASA

~~

The sun is starting its descent in the horizon, bright rays stretching across the sky as you stretch your arms across the dashboard in a deep stretch. It’s nearing the sixth hour of the long first day of your road trip and your energy is starting to fade. You’ve been up since early this morning, taking on the first few hours of driving before swapping with your auburn haired boyfriend currently tapping his thumbs on the leather wheel car beside you, humming lightly to the music filtering through the sound system.

Leaning back in your seat, you sink down, letting your eyes slip shut as you lean your head against the window and let the sun warm your bare arms and face. The music is calm and filled with beautiful harmonies, lulling you to sleep for the first time on the journey. You had promised each other you would help whoever was driving stay awake, but with plans to stop at nightfall at a hotel, you figured it wouldn’t hurt to take a short cat nap.

You don’t know how much time has passed when you feel a light brushing of fingers along your exposed shoulder and you reluctantly push your eyes open to see an apologetic gaze from the handsome man next to you.

“Babe, I’m so sorry, could you hand me something from the cooler?” Hyuck asks, applying some pressure to your shoulder to massage it with his fingers.

You melt into the touch, nuzzling your cheek warmly against his hand before nodding, unbuckling your seatbelt to carefully lean between the front two seats and open the cooler in the back. Travelling together has been a dream, stopping at different tourist spots on the way, letting him take pictures of you on his film camera, and charting out which cities along the way had all-you-can-eat hot pot.

“Water? Ginger ale?” you ask, wedging your waist between the seats to get a better angle.

Suddenly you feel Hyuck’s hand on you, causing you to jump and your upper body to lurch forward, trapping you between the seats.

“HYUCK!” you squeal, craning your neck to try to get his attention.

“What?!” he whines back, laughter seeping in as you feel the car slow down, easing his foot off the gas to reduce speed.

Without further explanation, he spreads his hand out over your ass, kneading with his fingertips slowly, just as he had been doing to your shoulder a few moments before. Despite the awkward angle you are currently curled into, you sigh and feel your cheeks start to heat. Despite all the alone time on the trip so far, there hadn’t been much time for anything beyond quick kisses or spooning in bed in the weeks leading up to the move. You’ve both been so busy and exhausted that every night your eyes have slipped shut the minute your heads hit the pillow.

“I’m sorry, what am I supposed to do when you’re on display for me and I’ve been horny for days,” he adds, voice dropping into a gruff tone as his hand moves between your thighs that are pressed together from the position.

“I thought you wanted something from the cooler,” you reply, trailing off as you feel him slide his fingers slide up the seam of your leggings, getting dangerously close to your core.

“You know what, I am kind of hungry, now that you mention it…” he replies, applying more pressure to your ass with his thumb, glancing up in the rear view mirror wickedly as he pulls off the highway and into a deserted corner of a rest stop.

As he puts the car in park, you wiggle trying to free yourself from the awkward position, feeling your calf starting to cramp. You let the lid to the cooler drop shut, knowing he’s definitely not thinking about that drink anymore.

Hyuck turns around in his seat, moving his hands to your waist, making contact with your bare skin from your shirt riding up just below your breasts. He pulls you gently so you are no longer wedged between the seats but keeping your ass close to his face.

“Now, how about that snack,” he murmurs barely audibly as cool air sends shivers up your spine when Hyuck pulls at the waistband of your leggings, exposing you fully.

“Donghyuck!” you cry out, arms tensing up and teeth digging into your bottom lip. The sun is setting slowly and a hazy dusk covers the sky. Anyone walking by would definitely be able to see and your cheeks burn at the thought of someone tapping on the window or pulling out their phone at the sight.

He only laughs, dipping his head down to press kisses at the thin lines of the bear tattoo on your lower back, laving at the skin there with his tongue as he always does. His hand slides up your chest, massaging you there and taking your nipple in between his fingers to squeeze it gently. A moan bubbles up in your throat and you dig your palms into the back seat below you, letting your head drop down.

Hyuck keeps kissing your skin, brushing his lips over and over, making you squirm. He gently lifts your hips up to give him a better angle, pushing your thighs open gently and lowering his head between them. You can feel his breath cool across your dripping core, arousal building in you and your temperature starting to rise in the cramped car.

“Baby, please,” you groan, turning your head to try to make eye contact with him as he continues to tease you.

“Begging? We’re begging now, are we? I thought you were scared someone would see,” he chuckles cruelly, sitting back and dragging a finger suddenly through your arousal before pulling it up to his lips and loudly sucking on the wet digit.

You groan in annoyance, feeling frustrated at not being able to move and have a sneaking suspicion he’s going to edge you despite the urgency of the situation.

“Please Hyuckie, I need your mouth on me now,” you mutter, voice barely above a whisper, almost drowned out by the soft music still playing in the car.

His eyes darken at the sound of the nickname in a lust-filled tone and his hands return to your ass cheeks, spreading them lightly to give him better access. His mouth is suddenly on you, tongue dragging along you to gather your arousal on his tongue, swirling at your clit. Your legs start to shake with pleasure and he tightens his grip as he slides a hand up your back to push your ass up further.

You don’t realize you’re holding in your moans until you taste blood in your mouth, having punctured your lip lightly. You know you aren’t going to last long after weeks without sex so you push your hips back, grinding against his lips for more friction. 

You can feel him smile against you, pulling you even closer to him by the waist, moaning against your core and tasting every inch of you. He was starving, nose bumping up against your clit repeatedly and sending waves of pleasure through your body.

Your mouth drops open to warn him of your impending orgasm but there’s no time as it crashes over you, a strangled cry falling from your lips that surely could be heard by anyone parked nearby. His grip on your waist tightens as you try to pull away, refusing to breathe until he’s worked you through your pleasure with his wicked tongue.

He finally breaks away from you with a messy sounding smack of his lips and you don’t need to look back at him to know that his cheeks are flushed and silky strands are dangling on the sides of his forehead. He pulls your leggings up for you and gently pulls you back into the passenger seat, slumping back into his own once you’re settled.

You’re out of breath and your arm hurts slightly from being pressed in an awkward position for so long. Your chest is heaving underneath the thin material of your shirt and you sigh, finally bringing your eyes up to meet your boyfriend’s gaze.

He’s smirking deviously, as he always does, and his legs are spread wide, cock visibly hard in his loose sweatpants. There’s a slight sheen across his forehead and his lips are still wet. You flush at the sight of him, heart pounding in your chest as you reach forward to close the space between you. You can taste yourself on his lips and moan into his mouth as your tongue makes contact with his. You run your fingers through his hair, dragging his head back to break the kiss and meet his eyes again.

“Now, is my boyfriend going to let me have snack time too? Or is he not going to share?” you ask menacingly, shoving your free hand down the waistband of his pants suddenly to grasp at his cock.

All he can do in reaction is moan, letting his eyes roll back as his head gently hits the window as you tug on his sweatpants and lower your lips over his lap. As much as he craves eating you out, you know blow jobs are his biggest weakness and it was your turn for payback in the darkening parking lot on the side of the highway.

This trip might end up taking longer than you both had planned if your quick snack breaks turned into full course meals, but neither of you really minded.

[not-poignant]

Omg please drop some of your fave 00s Midwestern emo

Absolutely!

So first thing I should say is that I love a lot of emo, not just 00s Midwest. And most of the musicians I loved then, I still follow to some capacity now (it's also how I found musicians like Manchester Orchestra long before they went viral.

For specifically Midwest era, it'd have to be:

The Get Up Kids (I would die for Matt Pryor, his prolificness and songwriting is incredible. He's also The New Amsterdams, and writes as Matt Pryor, he also did children's albums as The Terrible Twos and now has a punk band I always forget the name of). For people new to TGUK, would highly recommend Red Letter Day, and I'll Catch You

There's also Jets To Brazil, mewithoutYou, Sunny Day Real Estate, Spanish Love Songs (folks who listen to my playlists might recognise the song Brave Faces Everyone, which I'm also using as an upcoming chapter title). I've seen The Shins listed as Midwest emo and I enjoy them but I don't think they fit the genre, lol. There's also Mineral, Rainer Maria, Modest Mouse etc.

In terms of more broadly, the emo artists I've love/d are like Brand New (controversial these days, I know), Taking Back Sunday, Acceptance, The Academy Is..., Panic! at the Disco (they've strayed from their roots but I still like em), Say Anything, Matchbook Romance, Dashboard Confessional, The Early November, All Time Low (do an amazing cover of Umbrella), Fall Out Boy, The Format (not really emo but they were in this crowd), Jimmy Eat World, JamisonParker, Death Cab for Cutie, Alexisonfire! (Screamo), Anberlin, Hellogoodbye, and probably a bunch of others I'm missing!

I've been to see Dashboard Confessional and Brand New live (the latter was the first band I ever flew to another state to see, because they weren't going to come to Perth), and I've intended to see Taking Back Sunday twice but both times was too sick to go.

I live with a music journalist, and we're both very interested in all kinds of music, usually with different projects going on at the same time. Currently he's trying to get through all the top albums by year since albums existed (he's now in the early 90s), curating a playlist of '100 top songs per year' series of playlists. I'm doing my Colourways project this year, which is creating playlists of 30 unique songs each that match some of the top selected colours of the year. (I'm currently listening to Kenepuru Sound in that collection).

Last year were both actively tried to listen outside of our music spaces, so Glen targeted a lot of foreign countries, and I specifically lasered in on Indonesia, because that suited some worldbuilding I was doing. Consequently made a giant Indonesian-songs playlist, and fell in love with Padi. Everyone should. (Go listen to Semua Tak Sama, especially if you love Radiohead). I also focused on listening to a lot of Indigenous Australian music, which led me to Alf the Great, who made the song Running that I added to a few playlists. He's Kalkadungu/Bidjara.

The year before that I was followed on playlist curation, etc. We're both a bit neurodivergent about our music habits, except that Glen can't listen to the same song over and over again, and I can to his dismay, so I have to be careful how I do it (and normally not when he's home).

[yet-another-deanw-girl]

Chapter 4: The Order

||The Prophecy Series||

She knew for 15 years that this day would come. She knew her destiny had already been written. That her death had been foretold.

She knew she would have to stop him. She knew she would have to kill him. And she thought she was prepared for all of it. But the day she met him she realized how wrong she was…

Set in Season 10

Pairing: MoC!Dean x Female!OC

Warnings: the usual SPN, language

Episode mapping: After episode 4 of season 10 "Paper Moon"

Note: The events of this story are following season 10 of Supernatural and are taking place between October 2014 and July 2015. I tried to make sure that all the references to weapons, tech, etc. are accurate with the time period.

AN: This is my first time writing a fanfic but the story has been in my head for too long and it just needed to get out. I hope you like it.

AN: English is not my first language, I apologize for any mistakes.

"Checking biometric data…" a male voice comes from the car's speakers. "Identity confirmed. Hello, Emilia. Loading your last destination…" "Change the destination to mission location." I say to the computer. "Destination changed. 40 miles to the target, which is 64 kilometers" the computer announces. "Yeh, like I don't know that already." I mutter under my breath. "Seatbelt." I say to Sam. "What?" He is looking at the car's dashboard with astonishment. "Put the seatbelt on." I repeat and he looks at me, realizing that I already have mine in place. He puts his on and I start the car. After 10 minutes of driving in silence, Sam says. "When you said a car, I didn't imagine that. I have never seen anything like this." Well… I can not deny that the matt black Jeep Wrangler Unlimited Rubicon is kind of impressive and with all the customizations it is not something you can see every day.

Created with Microsoft Designer

"How is it that it recognizes your voice commands? And it shows everything in both miles and in kilometers." Despite everything Sam just can't hold back his curiosity. "It's a voice assistant. And I made some improvements before I came here. On top of everything else that was done to it." "What do you mean?" "Well… You don't think I have only one gun and a couple of knives, do you?" The pain is getting worse with every minute but I keep my focus on the Impala in front of me. "So… there are more weapons here? Is that why you so desperately wanted us to get it?" "No, damn it!" I'm starting to lose my temper. "I wanted you to get it, because there are things in this car that can not fall into the wrong hands. So they are protected. And if someone has the brilliant idea to try to steal that car it will protect itself. I stop for a second and when I see the look at Sam's face I know that he has no idea what I'm trying to say. I sigh and continue. "There is a self destruction mechanism… It will blow up." He is finally looking at me with understanding.

"So… What do you have?" "I suppose pretty much the same as you do in the Impala. For example…" I press several buttons on the dashboard and after a couple of seconds the console between the front seats opens, revealing a shotgun and 2 boxes with 12 rock salt buckshot each. "I'll have no problem handling a ghost." I push the buttons again and the shotgun disappears. "And what about that?" Sam looks at the bag in the back seat. "Those are my clothes." I smile.

I park the Jeep in front of the bunker. Dean is already out of his car and is coming to us. I take a breath and pull out the key from the ignition. I climb out of the vehicle without any grace and almost stumble on the ground. My legs are wobbly and the pain is making everything fuzzy. But I straighten my back and resume my stand with my hands clasped behind me. Sam grabs the bag from the backseat and emerges from the other side of the vehicle. The brothers start walking and I follow. Dean is in front of me, Sam is behind, never lowering his gun.

"So… talk!" Dean commands me and gives me two pills and a glass of water.  I take the pills and swallow them.  I'm sitting in a chair in the main area of the bunker. Sam had insisted on taking me to the devil's trap room, but Dean deemed it unnecessary, so, as a compromise, I was cuffed to the chair.

"In 1878, after significant changes in the geopolitics map of Europe, the Men of Letters desidet to drastically change too. There was the revolutionary idea to work side by side with the hunters and with the Witches' High Council. The British chapter, however, was strongly against this idea. They started a vicious campaign to stop it at any cost. There were massacres of witches and there was a real threat that the situation could escalate and restart the witch-hunts. So the British chapter of the Men of Letters was allowed to separate itself from the other parts. The leaders of the American chapter saw their opportunity and also negotiated their autonomy.  The Order was formed in Europe and Asia. The headquarters of The European Division of The Order is in Prague in a bunker just like this one. There are other smaller bunkers in other countries. The European Division is also responsible for the Middle East. The Asian Division's headquarters is situated in Japan. The British chapter of the Men of Letters isolated themselves and the Americans had their freedom too. An agreement was signed. The three separate organizations will not interfere with the work and the government of each other in fear of starting a new dark ages. However The Order and The American chapter of the Men of Letters continued to work together and exchange information, knowledge, and technologies. Until the Americans were wiped out overnight. A protocol was activated automatically and locked down all the bunkers in the States and an observation system was started so that The Order was notified if there was a threat to any of the facilities.  Over the years, members of The Order were sent to investigate different signals, but they were always insignificant events or nothing at all. There were a couple of demonic break in attempts but none of them were successful. About three weeks ago we received a signal that this bunker was attacked by demons. So I was sent here to investigate and, if needed, to neutralize the threat and secure and lock the bunker again. I never found what had triggered the alarm but I figured if you were here you had handled it." I finish my explanation. The boys exchange looks between themselves. They obviously know what has triggered the alarm. "Nice history lesson." Dean snorts. "What about the part about you killing Dean?" Sam asks. "Well... That's another history lesson." I declare and Dean rolls his eyes.  "My father's side of the family is something called 'Warriors of the Fates'. In every couple of generations, a member of my family line receives a prophecy predicting their lives and usually the task that they're given. In most cases, something that will change the course of history. I have received such a prophecy and everything it predicted had happened. The last part, the most important part, says that I will be the only one that will be able to kill some unstoppable dark monster." "And how do you know that that monster is Dean?" Sam asks. I look at Dean's arm and that's the only answer he needs. "He may never become like Cain! He may find a way to resist this mark and to control it." Sam protests but his brother doesn’t. I stay silent. How am I supposed to convince Sam that his brother will become something unspeakable? If I was in his place, I would never believe it. "Sammy, we both know that this is not true." Dean answers instead of me. "I already went down this path. And the fact that she is here just confirms the inevitable." "And I brought you back. And I'll do it again. As many times as I need to. We have no proof that you are the thing she is supposed to kill. It could be not related to us at all. We are talking about a prophecy for God's sake! A prophecy! It might not be real at all!" "Really? You believe that?" "And since when do you believe in prophecies? In destiny? In all this 'someone already decided it and we have no choice' bullshit?"

"I know it will all start when I'm bounded by 64 and four blood lines." I say softly and my words stop their argument. 

We are all silent for a long time after that.

Chapter 5: So many questions, so little answers >>

||The Prophecy Series||

[banannabethchase]

"Absolutely not. Unless you ask nicely." / in the drive thru for MattYuta

Coffee Run

~

“Please?”

“Order it yourself,” Yuta says.

“I don’t want to,” Matt says. He turns on the booboo eyes and levels them directly in Yuta’s direction, but Yuta knows better. Frankly, Mox taught him better.

“If you want a stupid forty-seven ounce mochaccino macchiato banana chocolate slurpy style whatever the fuck drink, I’m not embarrassing myself to ask for it.”

Matt sighs dramatically and slumps back into the seat. The only benefit is there are still a billion people in front of them in line. The problem is he’s stuck with Matt whining that whole time.

“I don’t like ordering,” Matt says.

“If I hit the breaks right now, you’d fly forward and hit that pretty face of yours on the dashboard,” Yuta says deadpan.

“Would not,” Matt says. His voice is all weird because he’s scrunched up. “Just order my drink.”

“I would need more time to memorize that atrocity than I do to figure out matches,” Yuta says. “You order.”

“I’m not loud enough for them to hear me across the car.”

Yuta laughs so hard his abs hurt. “God. Wow. No. I’m getting you a medium iced mocha coffee thing or you’re ordering yourself.”

Matt keeps whining as the car crawls forward.

“You really do keep going, don’t you?” Yuta says. “When are you going to admit you’ve lost?”

Another dramatic sigh, and Matt adjusts himself. In good time, too. They’re next at the speaker.

“Fine,” Matt says. “I’ll get the medium mocha coffee. Hot. No whip.”

“Of course no whip, you big baby.”

“And oat milk,” Matt says.

“See my previous comment.”

Yuta orders for both of them, and is about to pull away when Matt goes, “Wait!”

“What?” Yuta hisses.

“Add two chocolate chip cookies, please?” Matt yells over Yuta to the speaker.

“Of course,” the worker says. “Your total will be at the window.”

Yuta glances at Matt as he pulls forward. “The fuck was that?”

“A treat for us,” Matt says. He whips out his phone.

“What are you doing?”

“My app,” Matt says. “Use my app.”

“Is this a thank you or something?”

Matt leans in and kisses Yuta on the cheek. “Yes,” he says, beaming. “For being you.”

They get their cookies and drinks and Yuta sets his on his knee.

“Can I have a sip of yours?” Matt asks.

“Absolutely not,” Yuta says.

Matt sighs. “I deserve that.”

Yuta, let the record show, is only a man. His sigh is almost as dramatic as Matt’s, which he’ll have to keep an eye on. “Unless you ask nicely.”

Matt lights up. “Pretty, pretty please can I have a sip of your matcha?”

Yuta hands it to him. “You’re lucky you’re pretty.”

[edupunkn00b]

It Could Always Be Worse, Ch. 3: A Queer, Sultry Summer

Butterfly universe version of Happily Ever After, Ch. 3: A Queer, Sultry Summer.

Prev - A Queer, Sultry Summer - Next - All - [ AO3 ]

WC: 705 - Rated: T - CW: Self-harm

"It was a queer, sultry summer, the summer they electrocuted the Rosenbergs, and I didn't know what I was doing in New York." - Sylvia Plath, the Bell Jar (1963)

Virgil fidgeted with his sleeves in the passenger seat next to Logan. His eyes bounced between the window, his phone, and the clock on the dashboard. He signed heavily and turned to his father. "What time will we get there, Dad?"

"We are only about four blocks away, so just a few minutes, Virgil."

Virgil sucked his teeth. "Yeah, I know that, I mean what time."

Logan clenched his teeth for a moment, mentally counting to five before responding with more anger than the situation warranted. "I believe it will be two o'clock."

"'Kay, thanks," Virgil mumbled, tapping at his phone. Virgil looked up when he felt the car turn sharply to the left, slowly easing up the gravel driveway to his best friend's house. He sighed, "Finally."

Opening the car door the moment the wheels stopped moving, Virgil flung off his seat belt and yanked open the car door. His sleeve caught on the locking mechanism for a moment and he quickly tugged the sleeve back down, glancing over at his father. "Um, can you pick me up at 9?"

"Of course, Virgil. I will check with Matt's parents to be sure that works for them." He waved toward Matt's mom who was walking down the driveway to greet him.

"Hi, thanks for dropping him off," she called as she chased after Matt's little sister.

"It was my pleasure, really. Thank you for having him over. The boys have a good time together." Logan stood next to his minivan, hands in his pockets. Matt's little sister stepped a little closer to him.

"Hi," she grinned, looking at him sideways.

Logan smiled and crouched down, tilting his head the same way. "Hello," he said and signed in ASL. "How are you today?"

Matt's sister giggled and ran off, copying the sign for today. Logan chuckled then stood. Matt's mother had her arms crossed and was staring at Logan with an unreadable expression. His eyebrows knit together, "Is everything okay?"

"Sure, sure, um." She looked down at her feet and sighed. "Well, no." She looked up at Logan, "I don't know quite how to say this, so I'm just gonna blurt it out." She took a deep breath, "I think Virgil might be cutting himself."

Logan blinked and shook his head slightly, taking a half-step back and bumping into the minivan. "Wha—what?"

"I don't know if you know this, but, Matt has a history of it and I noticed that Virgil's showing some of the signs, and, well, Logan, it's the middle of July and he's been in long sleeves every time he's come over." Logan looked down at his own hands, catching himself rubbing at the skin under his watchband. He pressed his lips tightly together and shoved his hands in his pockets.

Matt's mother was still talking. "I just think you should ask him about it, or maybe, you know... get him some professional help." Both parents' heads suddenly swiveled, looking toward the far side of the lawn at the sound of Matt's little sister suddenly crying. She was sitting on the grass, holding a scraped knee. "Sorry, I need to—"

Logan nodded, "Of course, of course, um, I will be by at 9 to pick up Virgil."

"Sure, sure... see you then..." she called over her shoulder to Logan before murmuring to Matt's little sister, "Oh, kiddo, lemme see, okay...."

Logan gnawed at his lip, looking up at the house. He thought about the little scratches he'd seen on Virgil's hand about a month ago and how he couldn't explain how he'd gotten them. He rubbed his hands against the sleeves of his own shirt, swallowing hard. He waved one more time to Matt's mother and sister, then climbed back into his minivan. He took a moment to make a note on his phone to call Virgil's doctor on Monday morning for a referral. Pocketing his phone, he checked to see that Matt's sister was still safely out of the driveway, then pulled out and back into the street, slowly driving home.

[fortooate]

One Star

by Margaret Killjoy

I was just trying to get to Cambridge from downtown Boston, go see my friend. Should have taken twenty minutes with traffic. I didn't want to take the T, not with the kinds of chemical sniffers they'd been setting up at the entry. I didn't know if they could smell graff supplies.

So I downloaded that new app, registered it to a pre-paid Visa, and called for a Taxy.

The summer sun cut through the heavy, humid air. People around me were yelling, because that's what people do in the city, they yell.

The Taxy rolled up to the curb, matte black. It looked liked it wanted to disappear into the night, even in the day. What hacker doesn't want to roll in a matte black self-driving car?

I got into the passenger seat. There wasn't a driver seat. I pulled on the safety harness, two shoulder belts that clipped together right in front of my navel. The AC was blasting, and I held my hands up to the vent to let the cold air blow the sweat right off me.

"Hello, Nic," it said. Like, out of the dashboard, but over on the driver side. As if there were a driver.

"Hey," I said.

It cut out from the curb and back into traffic, deferring to human-driven cars but damned aggressive amongst the rest of the automated vehicles. It stopped for people at crosswalks and corners. Just yesterday, Jae had told me that self-driving cars just equated cell phones with people, in order to navigate through dense crowds. Jae was always going on like that; she cared more about the insides of machines than people. I liked hanging out with her anyway. Introverts are great: you can spend the night without them trying to sleep with you.

After two turns, the Taxy already looked like it it was heading the wrong direction.

"This isn't the way I usually take," I said. "You redirecting to avoid traffic or something?"

"I regret to inform you that your destination has been marked as a location of potential interest to the police."

I went for the safety harness release. It wouldn't let go.

"The fuck you talking about?"

"This police district requests all principal transportation providers to log passenger information of those traveling to and from specific locations. While customer privacy is of the utmost importance to us, we at Taxy are both required and proud to uphold our legal responsibilities."

"So why you driving the wrong way?"

"Unfortunately, the information provided in your account with Taxy does not match any existing police records. A request has been made to transport you to the station so they may identify you before we may proceed to your destination. Your account will not be charged for the additional time and distance. This matter is not criminal, and you are not facing charges or fines."

"Unlock my seatbelt." I'd be facing charges and fines soon enough if the cops took a look into my purse. Unregistered phone, paint pens. I ripped at the straps, but of course they were designed to hold up to a lot more force than I could manage with just my hands.

"Taxy would like to apologize for any inconvenience or delay."

"Aww hell no," I said. I got out my multitool, flipped open the knife, and started into one of the shoulder belts up where it connected to the seat beside my head. It was hard going—the webbing was reinforced with steel mesh. I had to switch over to the pliers, go at it strand by strand.

"All Taxy vehicles have been certified to the highest standard of customer safety. Our patented safety harnesses meet or exceed gold standard."

"Don't give me that shit. I know the difference between tensile strength and shear strength, you autobot-fucker." You could make a strap hard to snap without making it hard to cut.

We'd made it into the robot-only lane and the car was picking up speed. I didn't have long before I was going to be looking at a year for graffiti paraphernalia, and I wouldn't put it past them to slap on intent to vandalize.

"In my communications with the officers, I've realized you managed to fill out your Taxy registration without indicating a gender. What pronoun would you prefer I use to refer to you?"

"Are you kidding me, HAL? You want to know my pronoun preference?"

"We here at Taxy strive to provide the best possible experience for all of our customers regardless of their respective gender identities."

"I don't even have a fucking gender!"

"Your preference for the pronoun 'they' has been registered."

I cut through the last wire on one strap of my harness and started to weasel my way out.

"I regret to inform you that you will be held financially liable for any damage you cause to Taxy property. Your actions will be reviewed, and if they are deemed malicious, they will be treated as criminal."

I was free from the harness. Leaned back in my seat, started kicking at the glass. Didn't do any good. I pulled my tanktop off and wrapped it around my hand. I pummeled at the glass with my closed pliers. But the glass was tempered, likely meant to take bullets.

Taxy was the safest vehicle in the world.

I opened the glove box. Empty but for some courtesy mints. Searched the back seat. Nothing else in the damn car.

Alright. It was a technical problem. I just needed to solve it, or I'd spend six months in some privatized prison that wouldn't be quite so accommodating of gender differences as Taxy. Hell, I'd miss my sister's graduation just waiting for trial.

It was fine. I'd figure it out. Just had to keep my breath under control, keep panic at bay.

I went through my phone, found Jae. Covered the screen of the phone from any camera in the ceiling, then opened up a secure text app.

"your damn house is tagged"

I saw those three dots right away. She was already typing back. That girl lived on her phone, I swear.

"what do you mean, tagged?"

"taxy is taking me to the cops because i told it to take me to your place"

My phone started ringing, right off. I answered.

"Why in the fucking name of christ's personal hell did you tell a robot car to take you to my place?"

Usually, I liked Jae's voice. Kind of gravelly and charming. Wasn't charming just then.

"Why the fuck wouldn't I?"

"Because sometimes people like us break the law," Jae said.

"Help me get out of here."

"Just roll with it and keep your mouth shut. We'll get you a lawyer."

"Fuck that, Jae. Send a drone or something, usual access code. I'll figure it out."

She took a deep breath in. She didn't like my plan, didn't like me dragging her into it, either.

"Where are you?"

"I'm on Soldier's Field Road. I think it's taking me to the robot-only bridge."

But I wasn't sure if Jae heard that, because my service cut out.

"Fuck!" I started hitting the dash with my fists. "Fuck fuck fuck!"

"I regret to inform you that, upon review, your destructive actions have been deemed potentially criminal. Owing to arrest protocol, outside communications have been disabled."

A deployable Faraday cage, woven into the frame of the vehicle's cabin. Blocked cell signals. Luxury cars advertised it as a family road trip feature, presumably for families that hated their kids.

Boston was rushing by way too fast. On the Charles, Harvard guys were rowing their row-team yuppie canoes.

Any plan I could come up with, if I got caught, I'd be looking at a real bid. If I went to prison for stealing or destroying a Taxy, I'd spend at least the rest of my twenties packaging chain store coffee for forty cents an hour.

Jae was right. She was usually right. Better just roll with it. I let my breathing get deeper. Tried to relax, tried to give up.

"If you find our service useful, please consider rating us five stars on the App Store."

Fuck this Taxy. I was getting out. Double or nothing. I started tapping out a program on my phone.

"Hey car," I said, still writing.

"Yes Nic?"

"You got a name?"

"My name is Taxy."

"What about your pronoun?"

"I prefer when others refer to me as 'it.'"

"How do you communicate when the Faraday cage is deployed? Is your brain outside of it?"

"I will not answer that question."

I guess you can't play the same kinds of get-them-talking tricks on cars you can play on people. "Is your brain in the trunk or the hood?" I asked.

"I will not answer that question."

"Are you intelligent?"

"While I am capable of adding rudimentary instructions to my own programming, I am not what could be considered a true artificial intelligence."

"How do you make ethical decisions, then?"

"I do not understand."

"You're a death machine, right? You hit some dude when you're going sixty, and he's just walking his dog or some shit, then he's dead and his dog, you just killed his dog too. But if you try and stop too fast, you might roll and kill your passenger. You swerve, same issue. It's that train problem. Ethics."

"The trolley problem."

"Yeah, the fucking trolley problem."

We weren't two minutes from the bridge into Cambridge, and probably another two from there to jail. I got back into that safety harness, what was left of it, while my thumbs tapped faster on my screen than I would have thought they could go. Hoped Jae had heard me, hoped she'd sent the drone.

"In order to be legal on the road in Massachusetts, I am programmed to prioritize saving the greatest number of human lives. I am sorry if you feel I do not adequately prioritize you, the customer. I am bound by the constraints of law. But I assure you, traveling in a Taxy is nearly two thousand percent safer than if a human were at the wheel."

I saw a quadcopter hanging over the bridge. Small, kind of uneven in its hovering. Had to be Jae's.

"Hey, car," I said.

"Taxy."

"Fuck you, car." I opened the glovebox, put my feet up on the dash for leverage, grabbed the lip of the glovebox with my pliers, and pulled. Heard something crack. I brought my foot down on the open glovebox door. Again. Again. The plastic gave out, and I jammed my phone into the crack I'd made at the back of the glovebox. Past the damn Faraday cage.

We turned onto the bridge, going fifty, and the drone got its signal.

Jae kept three phones on her quadcopters. An autonomous brain, a camera, and a redundancy that stayed off by default. Three cellular devices. That counted as three people. But only the brain was likely to be on, so Taxy here was only counting one up in the sky.

My program forced the drone to shoot down to the pavement, switching on its camera and redundancy as it went, and I clung to the harness with all I had.

Taxy swerved, and I saw the guardrail coming. Then I was weightless and there was just a wall of water in front of me. Taxy and I crashed through the surface of the river then bobbed back up before I had time to think.

Pain ran through my shoulder. It was probably dislocated.

Taxy didn't say a word. My harness came undone, and the door lock clicked open. Emergency protocols. The safest ride in the world.

I grabbed my phone, opened up the App Store page for Taxy. Typed in a new review:

"One star. Drives you to jail."

I opened the door, and the river rushed in. Some Harvard yuppies rowed by in their yuppie canoes, gawking.

I let my purse sink down to the bottom of the river, and swam, one-armed, to shore.

___________________________________________________________

This was, I think, the punchiest story in Margaret Killjoy's new book of collected short stories, We Won't be Here Tomorrow. Hopefully you're enticed, now.

[inawickedlittletown]

Serendipity - Buddie Soulmate Au - 9/?

Summary: Soulmate Marks were personal, they were the most personal thing that a person could have. They were the connection to your other half, the thing that linked you so completely to someone in a way that was magical and unexplainable and they were supposed to be yours and your Soulmates and no one else’s.

When Buck’s Soulmate Mark is leaked to the world, ruining his plans of meeting his Soulmate organically, he has no idea that fate has him covered.

Meanwhile, Eddie has never watched an episode of Serendipity, but starting the show involves becoming a fan of one Evan Buckley and finding out that the Soulmate he wasn’t looking for is a famous actor responsible for his new favorite show.

Notes: Serendipity is defined as: the occurrence and development of events by chance in a happy or beneficial way.

Read on Ao3

Masterpost

-

Chapter Nine

Time was confusing and Buck had no idea how much time had passed between hearing the siren and seeing lights that made him close his eyes tight until he could open them again. Everything was moving too fast and Buck thought he heard Chim’s voice. He saw the firefighters, and tired from half sitting and half hanging, unbuckled himself and climbed down. One of his feet got caught in something and he stumbled forward, but caught himself and luckily managed not to topple into one of the firefighters. 

 Buck would never admit it, but he’d been unsteady on his feet, except that seeing Josh still in the car and bleeding from a head wound had made him run forward. 

 He hardly heard the firefighter that called out to him, because Josh was right there and Buck needed to be sure that he was going to be okay. Chimney was there already and helping Josh down. Buck jumped in to help. He ignored the way Chimney protested and tried to send him away, but since he nearly had Josh out of the car it didn’t matter.

 Chim led them to an ambulance. 

 “Hey, come on, no,” Josh said at once. “There’s — there are hurt people out there. More than us. We just walked here. Get to them first.” 

 His head was spinning, but Buck nodded too. Chim nevertheless made Josh sit down on a stretcher and he dropped a blanket on Josh’s lap and left them when another firefighter called him away. Buck stood near him. 

 “You sure you’re okay?” Buck asked. “You’re bleeding.” 

 “It’s just a cut. I hit my head. Chim said face wounds always bleed a lot.”

 “Okay,” Buck said. “I think I hit my head too.” 

 “And something is definitely wrong with my shoulder,” Josh said with a slight wince. He reached and rubbed his left knee. “I think I bumped my knee on the dashboard.” 

 Around them was chaos. Power tools were being used to cut people out of cars, the lights of the firetrucks and ambulances were practically blinding. There was a crowd of people standing back and watching. Some of them had their phones out taking pictures or video of the scene. They at least hadn’t noticed him or Josh. And all over the place firefighters and paramedics. 

 “How many cars were involved?” Buck wondered. 

 “A bunch, it looks like.” 

 Buck moved closer to Josh, trying to get a look at the cut. Josh groaned. 

 “Buck, stop. I’m okay. Come sit.” 

 Buck joined him on the stretcher and Josh threw some of the blanket over his shoulders. It barely covered both of them, but Buck hadn’t realized how cold he was until he was getting some warmth. He and Josh pressed close together. Buck wanted nothing more than to just lean over and close his eyes. 

 “This wasn’t how I expected our first day to go,” Josh said. 

 “I know. I hope — I hope Matt and Dave are okay.” 

 They saw when Dave was loaded up onto an ambulance. There was a lot of blood and the paramedics seemed to be rushing him away. Matt and Amy were taken away too. 

 Chim came back to them and insisted on checking them over again. He called someone named Hen over. 

 “So, how is it you two know this guy?” Hen asked. 

 “Maddie is Buck’s sister,” Chim said. 

 “So you’ve been holding out on us,” Hen said. 

 Buck laughed, not able to help himself, and yet appreciative that Chim hadn’t told anyone he knew Buck or Josh. It was more Maddie’s doing than his own because Maddie knew first hand what it was like when people found out she was Buck’s sister. It was especially bad since Serendipity had gotten so big. 

 Hen declared that she thought Buck had a concussion and considering how his headache had intensified and his eyes stung, he didn’t think she was wrong. They let them ride in the same ambulance, at least, and Buck borrowed Chim’s phone to talk to Maddie who insisted on meeting them at the hospital. 

 Josh took care of calling one of their producers, so when he was done with Maddie, Buck called Meredith — after having Maddie send him her contact info. No one had really recognized them or made a big deal about it if they did — perhaps thanks to Chim — but it would get out and the best thing was to get ahead of it. After all, there had been news station helicopters around when they were leaving and someone was bound to put things together. Or one of the people taking video might zoom in at the wrong time and see him 

 Things were a bit of a blur and Buck had no idea how much time had passed, but he remembered Chim and Hen leaving after he and Josh were admitted. A doctor confirmed Buck’s concussion and kept him under observation. Josh, it turned out, had bruised his kneecap and his shoulder was sprained. 

 It was a while before either of them was discharged, Buck with instructions on his behavior for the next few days, and Josh with a sling for his shoulder. They were both warned that they were going to be sore for a few days 

 Maddie hovered over Buck throughout all of it, and they met Dave’s girlfriend and parents in the visiting room as well as Matt’s boyfriend. Parker arrived around the same time, looking frazzled, but happy to see Buck and Josh. 

 “There are paps outside,” Parker said after he’d checked with everyone. 

 “And police trying to make them go away,” Maddie added. 

 For all that Buck wanted to stick around to be sure that the others would be okay, Maddie convinced him and Josh they were better off going home. Parker nodded along. 

 “I will keep you both informed. Don’t worry. Go and rest. We’re not shooting tomorrow, or the rest of the week. Lots to figure out in light of this. I’ll call.” 

 “Email,” Buck said. “At least until I get a new phone. Not that I can look at screens for a while.”

 The hospital staff helped them leave the hospital unnoticed, with Maddie waiting right by the door so they could get into her car. 

 —

 “And now is the moment you tell us everything,” Hen said. 

 Eddie shared a look with Bobby. Hen and Chim had arrived back from the hospital a bit after they got back from the scene of the accident and Eddie had almost forgotten about Chim knowing both Josh Russo and Evan Buckley. 

 Chim sighed. He dropped into the couch.“I was hoping since you hadn’t asked on the drive that you wouldn’t ask now.” 

 Hen gave him a pointed look. 

 “Fine. Fine. Buck is Maddie’s brother, like I said. So, I met him through her a few weeks after Maddie and I met. I didn’t say anything because Maddie always wants to keep it quiet. She doesn’t like the way people act once they find out.” 

 “That’s fair,” Hen said. 

 “I’ve only met Josh the one time,” Chim added. “They’re both just people.”

 “People who are famous,” Hen said. 

 Chim shrugged. “Yeah, but they’re pretty normal.” 

 That was when Hen turned to Eddie. “Hey, are you alright? You kind of froze on the scene. It’s not like you.” 

 It was an opening to tell them everything. Chim knowing Buck was in some ways a second shot at getting to meet him sooner than later and yet it was right there in Chim’s explanation for why he hadn’t told them he knew Buck. And Eddie had already spoken to Buck’s agent. He would meet him when it was meant to happen. 

 “I’m okay,” Eddie said. 

 “You didn’t even come over and meet Buck and Josh,” Hen said. “Are you sure?” 

 “Yeah,” Eddie said. 

 Bobby offered him a smile. 

 “Well, Buck has a concussion, but I still think his offer for dinner stands,” Hen said. “Karen is not going to believe it.” 

 Chim groaned. “He did offer. And he won’t forget, but he is busy.”  

 —

 “It seems that Serendipity will delay shooting for a few weeks following a car accident involving some cast members. The HBO show had only just returned to start shooting for season four. The accident happened while a PA, a Mr. David Lynch was driving cast members including Evan Buckley and Josh Russo from an on-location shoot. A drunk driver ran a red light causing the accident. No one has seen either of the stars of the hit show since, but our sources do confirm that Mr. Lynch and a cast member are still hospitalized along with several others involved in the crash.” 

 Buck almost laughed after hearing what E!News was reporting. He knew for a fact that a statement had been put out, but maybe it hadn’t been clear enough. He and Josh hadn’t been seen, that was true, but it was because they were both resting. Buck still felt sore but his concussion had resolved itself while Matt remained in the hospital and Josh was in a sling. 

 They had paused production for a few weeks. In the meanwhile, Buck had received the script for the second episode, so he had something to work on. He hadn’t been able to read it until his concussion was over, but it had given him something to look forward to. 

 The second episode sent Henry and Jasper to New York City for about half the episode. They were following a lead, leading to the fun trope of everyone they met assuming they were a couple. Assuming they were Soulmates. The tension and angst that brought because neither of them discussed the kiss from the last episode was going to be amazing to play into. The episode also gave some focus to Henry’s past with his Soulmate in a scene that began with Henry literally speaking to his Soulmate and ended with Jasper at his hotel door and the two of them making out again instead of talking. 

 Buck had texted Josh a gif of the bunnies from Bambi kissing. 

 Josh: LOL. Which bunny am I? 

 Buck: Obviously Thumper

 Josh: You think I’ll be that good a kisser? 😗😗

 Not having a phone for a few days — not that he would have been able to use it past answering calls — gave Buck a lot of peace and quiet, and yet it had also reminded him how much he relied on his phone for everything. 

 Once he was able to use screens again, he had spent hours going through emails, but glad he had an excuse to still ignore a large quantity of them. And although Meredith had come by a few times, her emails about the whole Soulmate thing were the ones he was most interested in. He would never admit to the amount of time he lost staring at the picture of the Mark that was meant to match his. 

 Meredith had been unable to make the meeting she had originally set up because of everything going on and Buck was growing impatient. He wanted to know for sure and didn’t want his hopes up. He feared the disappointment that might come. She had already rescheduled and he was waiting to hear about it. A part of him had wanted to tell Meredith that he would be there too, but Maddie pointed out that he needed to be more careful than that. 

 Maddie had at least stopped hovering and showing up at his house unannounced as soon as Buck’s doctor cleared him of the concussion. 

 A week later, and the speculation about Buck’s whereabouts as well as the state of his health were becoming annoying. Twitter was a place Buck couldn’t stomach, and yet he couldn’t help but laugh at every rumor that had popped up. Some were about Josh — but dispelled when Josh posted a picture where he had his sling on — but most were about Buck. The gist of the rumor was that Buck had suffered a severe injury and that HBO was hiding it. They didn’t want the world to know. 

 Adding fuel to the fire was that HBO wasn’t making any kind of comment on Matt and his well being. When Buck had asked Parker why, Parker had explained that although Matt had been announced as joining the cast, no one knew who he was playing. The fans thought he might be Jasper’s brother or someone involved in a case. They didn’t know the extent of his role. Matt was going to be in all but episode two since that one was so focused on Henry and Jasper. HBO didn’t want to admit that their delay in filming was about Matt more so than Josh and Buck. 

 Matt Whitehall was an actor known more for his stint on Disney Channel as a teenager, but he had a couple of other roles under his belt. Serendipity was supposed to show him as a serious actor and his role was much bigger than most people expected from an actor that to many already didn’t have much of a career. To put any light on how badly Matt was injured and that it was stopping production meant that the part he was playing would leak because Buck was sure that another part of the discussion behind the scenes was possible recasting. 

 Meredith wanted to set up a pap walk so that Buck could be seen because it would work better than putting out a statement or tweeting. Buck thought it was stupid. He had gone out a few times since the accident to pick up groceries and to visit the hospital and he hadn’t been noticed once. Before the pap walk could be set up, Buck got a call from Tim. 

 Tim explained that if they had been on schedule he and Josh would have been out with a film crew in New York starting on shooting for the second episode. With Matt still in recovery, and things already booked in New York, they thought it was best to move forward with the New York shoot and then continue with the first episode when they returned since most of that could be done on a soundstage. 

 “And,” Tim added, “we’ve booked you and Josh on Jimmy Fallon to get rid of all these rumors that you’re in a full cast and hidden away in a hospital room.” 

 Which was how he and Josh wound up on a plane the next day. What a lot of people didn’t know because of how often celebrities seemed to be found at airports, was that there were plenty of ways around that. It might have been to their advantage to be seen, but it was early and he and Josh were more concerned with just getting to New York and not being hounded when they arrived.

-

Chapter Ten

[daredevilexchange]

Want to be featured here? Head to this page and fill in the form!

See what this is about here, or if you’re using the app here.

What’s your fannish ID? I'm lovetincture pretty much everywhere: AO3, Twitter, Tumblr, even Dreamwidth and (I think) Livejournal. There's really not a good story behind the name. I was trying to find a good one that wasn't taken, and the intention there was "love potion," basically.

What types of fanworks do you create? I write fics! "What do you love about it?" is a hard question because honestly, I don't feel like I've ever had much choice in the matter? I just... I write because I don't know what else I'd do with myself, honestly. I've written with concentrated focus for 10+ years. I write because I enjoy immersing myself in other people's heads. Like the taste of your own cooking, I enjoy spending time in the stories I create as I make them. Fun fact, I actually went to school for painting. Formal education damaged some integral desire component for making visual art, but occasionally I have inclinations in that direction. I wouldn't be opposed to making fan art at some point if the moon is full and the stars align, etc. etc.

What are your favourite types of fanworks, when you’re not creating? Fics! Definitely fics. I've always been a big reader, and my favorite thing to do upon entering any new fandom is to read everything I can get my hands on. I do deeply enjoy the art, gifs, and vids that cross my dashboard or that friends send my way, though.

What do you like in particular about this fandom? I'm primarily here for Frank/Matt (Fratt). I'm a sucker for a good thorny, complex relationship, and they certainly have that. I appreciate that they're both such complicated characters full of contradictions. It's great fun (and sometimes a little frustrating) trying to get in their heads as a writer. I came from the Hannibal fandom ages ago, so that should tell you everything you need to know about how I feel with ships with a good kiss/kill drive. 😛 It helps that Matt is a Catholic character and that Frank canonically went to seminary. As a queer person, my own relationship with the Christian faith is a complicated one, but I'm a theology nerd and at one point considered going to seminary myself. I enjoy having the chance to explore that aspect of both of these characters very much. Plus all the side characters are great! Foggy, Karen, Claire, David... honestly, I don't think I've met a Daredevil or Punisher character that I *didn't* like or find fascinating on some level or another. There's just so much great space to sprawl out and roll around as a fan creator in this fandom.

Do you like participating in fan events? I like the *idea* of it, but as a general rule, I don't participate unless the prompts for events/fests are very open to interpretation. My brain is a contrary thing that loves subverting things the most, so if there's a prompt, I will probably try to find a way to turn it upside down and shake it until something weird falls out. I'll sometimes join events that seem like they wouldn't mind that.

What about your creating process? I write 1-2k words minimum every day, no matter how I'm feeling about it. It's always exciting to write when you have a great idea and the words are flowing perfectly, but I think just as often, magic happens when you bring yourself to the keyboard with no ideas at all. It's a numbers game. The more you write, the better you'll get and the better the chances that one of those fics will be good. So, you know, I'm out here, perpetually writing. When I get stuck, I find that narrowing my focus is very helpful: Fuck the big picture, what's the next sentence? Then another and another until I start to understand where the story is going. Particular influences... I'm a big fan of weird literary styles, and I think maybe it shows. Nonlinear narratives, experimental novels, poetry, fictional podcasts accidentally listened to out of order... I'm forever trying not only to tell better stories but to tell *weirder* ones, deconstructed narratives that still manage to feel satisfying. 

Do you interact a lot with other fans? I've fallen out of the habit in recent years. In a lot of ways, my preferred methods of engaging with fandom are solitary: engaging with the canon, reading fics and writing them. That said, I'm... tentatively trying to poke my head out and get to know people. Everyone I've met so far in this fandom seems absolutely lovely, and I'd like to get to know them better and meet new people.

Is there any particular piece you'd like to showcase for this post? This feels like kind of a weird choice, but I'm going to say the most recent fic I wrote, Trust Fall. https://archiveofourown.org/works/31839439 It's... well, honestly, it's a fic where Frank puts makeup on Matt, at Matt's request. It sounds completely bonkers and out of character, but I like to think I did both characters justice while trying to excavate the sort of terrified, almost repellent intimacy they have between them. I like this fic for the same reason I wrote it—because it's a challenge and a little bit weird, and I hope maybe other people will enjoy this kind of atypical Fratt fic.

Do you have other fandoms you’d like to talk about? I'm not so much multifannish as serially monogamous, fandom-wise, which is to say that right now, I'm all about Daredevil and co. My fannish history in recent years has included BBC Sherlock, Hannibal, Supernatural, Loveless, Person of Interest, and a tiny dabble into some parts of the greater MCU.

It's hard to say what exactly draws me toward canons, what that spark is. I think there has to be something interesting in the central relationships. I like complicated, thorny relationships more often than not. I like morally grey characters, or characters who are damaged in some way who I find fascinating enough to poke at.

Where can your fanworks be found? https://archiveofourown.org/users/lovetincture

Thank you, @lovetincture !

banner by @context-is-for-kingpins !

[ID on a white background, four black triangles that look like spotlights from above. Each illuminates one of the Defenders silhouetted in white: Jessica, Luke, Danny, Matt. A hand on the left is holding a pen writing the words Content Creator Spotlight. There is a little Punisher skull on the pen. End ID]

[echo-three-one]

Good day tumblr.

I'm migrating to using google docs for writing and I found something I wrote that was unpublished.

It's like an OC x OC because I wrote this at the time I got invested in A LOT of contemporary romance books.

It's also NSFW, It is a one-shot and I don't know how I made that last sentence. I'm single since birth and maybe had a couple of girls in my life but never really made it together. Enjoy? I guess

Matt

I released yet another deep sigh as I tossed my controller on the couch. It has been two months since my heart got shattered but I still haven’t found the chance to move on. Maybe I wasn’t supposed to, that’s why my mind has been tormenting me ever since. Even my best bud gave up on me when after all those “conventional ways” he knew failed, evidenced by me still visiting her profile page every now and then. Heck, I even have her notifications of whenever she posts.

My phone vibrated and that specific ding means that it’s an Instagram post from her. Yes, call me crazy and all because I still am even after all this time. She posted a picture of a plane ticket and a passport to whoever knows where, it’s one of those photos that didn’t contain her face, meaning, it’s a personal and unsponsored post and it’s something she wants to express. See, I’m still clearly not over her. I groan in frustration and threw my phone beside the controller, as I slide down from the couch down to the floor like a kid who didn’t get the toy he wanted for Christmas. I lazily reached for the tub of ice cream on the coffee table beside me and looked at it, it’s half melted and sad, Just like me. I got up and brought back the sad dessert to my refrigerator and as soon as I got back, I saw myself on the mirror. Fuck, I looked horrible, my hair was a bird’s nest and my beard grew thicker each day. I’m actually glad my work doesn’t involve me showing up in an office because, I could get used to this look, I wanted the world to see how broken I am right now, I wanted her to see what happened to me. I surveyed around the room, it was a mess. Empty beer bottles sprawled over the living room, while chips were all opened and half eater on every chair of the room. The only good thing is that the mess only accumulated on one specific room, I don’t sleep on my bed anymore because I could still smell her on the sheets, and I never wanted that to leave.

A few more days passed and I finally did something not involving gloating: I ordered a cleaning service for the living room and specifically told them not to touch any other room. The past days reminded me that there’s more to life than her and I actually went outside today, grabbing my camera and slipping on my trusted hoodie which I use for work, I let the cleaning team fix my mess as I unwind by doing what I am really passionate about, taking pictures.

My best friend, Patrick, was actually proud of my decision, wishing he could support me but was stuck in his wife’s family gathering. I felt guilty that I didn’t talk to him the past months as I gloated, hearing someone who actually cares for me was a good feeling, especially after locking myself from the world after a miserable break-up.

As soon as I got to the park, I started taking simple pictures, flowers, children playing, flowing streams, and skyscrapers. It actually feels good to be back outside, seeing the beauty of the world not from a glass screen. I flipped through my camera roll and examined each photo I took. They really weren’t that good, but mixed with a nice back story, It could be a killer post. I chuckled as I rotate the dial of my camera and went a little too far back and I froze in the middle of the park. It was a picture of me and Bianca, my ex-girlfriend, whom I missed so much. It was taken on a gazebo at the park we visited back then and a 7 year old kid took the photo, We were travelling around so if the two of us were In a photo, it means we asked someone to take it for us. The said photo was where I saw myself smile the widest. She was wrapping her arms around me from behind and my eyes were closed, smiling while she was looking at me and laughing.

A single drop fell on the screen and I woke back to my senses, did I just cry? I looked around and saw children running about as I looked up into the sky and saw dark clouds forming. So much for going outside…

That evening, I actually had the inspiration to work. With the storm brewing up outside, sending tendrils of lightning across the sky, I decided that It was the perfect set-up to get something done. Hours flew by as I managed my schedules and checked my e-mails letting my clients know that I was alive and just hit a rough patch. I didn’t even realized that my entry got nominated on a competition I signed up for earlier that year, which was probably the little ray of sunlight on my gloomy skies. Just this evening, I managed to book 3 photo sessions for next week, which might give me something to get busy on while I do the inevitable: moving on.

Later that night, my phone buzzed a familiar tone. She was calling me. Rubbing the sleep off my eyes, and making sure I’m not dreaming, I hurriedly grabbed my phone. It’s her photo. She. Is. Actually. Calling. Me.

My heart sped up and I took deep breaths. I’m not dumb. I’m going to pretend I’m over her. I’m doing this for myself.

“Hello?” I croaked.

“Hello! Is this you Matt?” her voice reignited my mind. Shit. My mind went blank.

“Uh.. Yes. This is Matt. Who is .. Who is this?” I stuttered. I’m not a great pretender, but I did my best.

“This is Bianca, your uh.. friend. We’re still friends right?” she chuckles, the sound of an intercom could be heard from behind. As I thought, she’s in an airport.

“Oh. Of course, Bianca, we are.” I scoffed. Yeah. Friends. Would it hurt you to say we’re at least ex lovers?

“Listen, um.. I badly need your help. I’m at the airport right now and they canceled my flight due to the storm. I was about to look for nearby hotels but there’s a concert right now that filled up the rooms fast. Do you mind if I stay in there for a while?” my breathing sped up. No way, she’s spending the night here?

“Oh sure sure. I’ll come pick you up there, just wait for me..” I stuttered and ended the call, so much for being able to move on, I managed to make a fool of myself yet again. Without any more hesitations, I quickly prepared myself and drove to the airport.

Bianca

“I won’t regret it.” I whispered one last time as I sat on the waiting area by the entrance, hugging my phone close as I breathed out a heavy sigh. I can’t believe I’m in this situation, it’s like fate wanted me to give Matt a proper farewell, the one with no vague explanations and quick goodbyes. I closed my eyes and braced myself as sooner or later I’d be facing him. He sounded fine over the phone, except he felt nervous.. and hesitating. Maybe he’s busy and he has to make quick changes so he could cater to me. He shouldn’t, but knowing him, he would. Everyone who knows Matt knows he’s very accommodating.

“Bianca..” a voice whispered in front of me as I opened my eyes.. Matt stood there, with an umbrella open and another one hanging on his hand. He offered his other umbrella and carried my luggage behind me. I can’t help but wonder how he’s holding up and the longer I wonder, the more shy I become knowing that I caused a part of this change. Last time I saw him, he was this slightly chubby, always freshly shaven and a smile never leaves his face. Now, he looked like he lost a couple of pounds and he hasn’t shaved in days as his stubble grew around his mouth, and he’s not fooling me with that fake smile he plastered on his face. He should know that I could see through that smile of his.

I started to feel nervous as I entered his car, although nothing much changed, the consistency bothered me a lot. It felt the same when we were together, the smell, the same things in his dashboard and even these dust settling on the floor. Did he not use his car ever since? I shouldn’t be bothered by this, but I can’t help but be curious as to what he was up to all these months.

I admired how Matt handled this situation maturely, he kept casual on his questions, evading everything that would lead to the events of two months ago. I took the chance to ask how he was doing and surprisingly, he answered quickly that he took a lot of photo sessions and how he got nominated on some indie photography award. At least that talk shook off the worry that was growing in me and gave me hope that this night will turn out great rather than a disaster.

As soon as we walked into his room, he talked about how I should feel at home since I am his guest. He talked so nonchalant it felt like he rehearsed what he said, I tried to ignore his emotionless introduction as he led me to his bedroom, I glanced around and noticed that nothing really changed during my time here, and it probably means that he’s holding up pretty well. He settled my luggage beside the bed and he grabbed a pillow and some comforters, and single-handedly carried it outside.

“I’ll be sleeping by the couch if you need something. I mean, you probably know your way around, Good Night, Bianca.” he says as he slowly shut the door, leaving me alone in his room. I slowly plopped myself into his comfortable sheets and tried to shut my eyes, but I can’t help but smell my old shampoo in his pillow. Slightly bothered, I got up and took a whiff at the pillow and realized it was my smell, I quickly grabbed the other one and caught a whiff of Matt’s scent on it. He probably doesn’t use the whole bed when he sleeps, I thought to myself, dismissing any other thoughts and tried to sleep. I shifted positions every other minute until I couldn't take it anymore. I grew curious until the point that I wanted to confront him about it. It looks like the talk we’ve both been evading should happen.

Matt

I fluffed my pillows one last time and glanced at my bedroom door for the last time. She’s in there. I muttered to myself. I wanted to talk to her one last time, maybe ask some questions and say what I feel… But that won’t happen tonight, she has a lot of things on her plate right now and has to deal with rebooking a cancelled flight, I should probably stay out of her way. I heard the door creak and I quickly got up and locked my eyes on her, as she peeks at the door.

“Is there something wrong?” I asked.

“I’m just going to get some water.” She replied as he walked to the kitchen, I can't help but let my eyes follow her as she carefully moved to the fridge. She was wearing her favorite pajamas, pink with flower prints sprawled everywhere. I smiled as our gazes met.

“Feeling comfy?” I asked.

“Yeah, what about you?” She nodded and nudged toward my direction.

“Yes.” I replied shifting comfortably on my couch, grinning like a little kid. She let out a soft chuckle and entered back to the room. I smiled as she shut the door and drifted myself to sleep.

The cold burst of air crossed against my foot and made me shiver, this wasn’t supposed to happen, did I forget to close the windows? I slowly got up and looked around, I wasn’t dreaming, my ex is still here. I peeked at the balcony and saw her staring at the moon, I saw that she scratched the pajamas and is now wearing possibly only her underwear behind that silk robe, a robe she got when she competed that one competition overseas.

“Can’t sleep?” I asked her as I offered a mug of warm milk. She looked surprised and a faint blush on her face formed as it was illuminated by the moonlight.

“Actually, yeah. Just thinking of what’s ahead.” She smiled as she grabbed the mug, wrapping it with her hands and blowing the steam away and taking a sip. “You?”

“You opened the balcony and the cold breeze kinda made me shiver.” I laughed.

“I’m sorry.” She bowed and chuckled softly. “I never knew you were that sensitive to cold.”

“Well, I wasn’t until…” I answered while I looked down on myself, emphasizing how loose my shirt was.

“Oh.. I noticed that. What happened? You hit the gym? Oh, you’re trying to impress someone! Do tell!” she asked grabbing my shirt, I could feel the shakiness in her reply, as if it was invading uncharted territory.

I sighed. “I can’t lie to you… I didn’t really want to bring this up but… I forgot to eat. When you left… You can forget that detail. I just want this off my chest, that’s all.” My heart pounded through my chest as I told her.

She pursed her lips and averted her gaze elsewhere. “I’m sorry about that…” she said but I shushed her mouth with my index finger. “You don’t have to… It’s my fault.” I said, trying to save her from recalling what she did. I didn’t want that, I wanted her to know that I’ve been trying. I continued talking, I told her about the things I learned from her, and that I was willing to move forward with my life, I wanted her to keep the details of our break up to herself, so I could evaluate on myself and become a better person. Lastly, I told her that I still loved her up to this very moment, and how it might take a while for it to slowly fade away.

A tear fell from the corner of her eye and I wiped It off with my thumb as I cupped her soft warm cheeks, her hands slowly grabbed mine and slowly guided it to her heart, I felt it pound and of course, I felt her soft breasts as she let me feel it.

“I’m still at fault for letting you go like that… I didn’t even consider how it’d affect you…” her voice croaked and I can’t help but embrace her and rub her back.

“I guess, it’s just like that sometimes, Bianca. Words don’t need to explain everything.” I whispered to her ear as I slowly accepted that we were never getting back together. I have lost the war for her heart and at least I did it with her wrapped around my arms.

She then looked up to me, reaching her arms on my cheek, gently rubbing my stubble. She then pulled my face close to hers as our lips met each other. I hesitated at first, but I’m only human and I still loved her, so as I felt her tongue beg to enter me, I tilted my head and wrapped my tongue against her, tasting her again possibly for the last time. I gripped her waist, slowly sliding my hand to her ass and held it tight pulling her body close to me. This action made her moan while she was inside my mouth and I closed my eyes wishing this moment would never end. Bianca quickly hoisted herself toward me and wrapped her legs on my hips which led me off balance. I quickly regained composure as I blindly led her to the couch and we both crashed on it while she was straddling on my lap.

We almost never had the time for sex, it was either she was too tired or I was and most of the time, she's away for trainings. If I was given the chance to rate all of our sexy moments together, this was possibly one of the best, yet it also is one of the worst, as it was the last one. Our make out session was full of soft kisses on every angle possible, smacking sounds echoed across the room along with soft pants and groans escaping from our mouths. My hands clung on to her ass most of the time, slowly rubbing her soft ass cheeks and stretching it outward during long kisses. She didn't stop me, so I started kissing her chest area as I let her perky nipples peek through her bra.

All I got from her is a smile and a sparkle in her eye saying 'go ahead' and I began to suck it and lick around her nipples, her soft moans felt rewarding as her hand guides my free hand to play with the other one. I hungrily sucked on both her nipples, changing course quickly, giving each of her breasts undivided attention. This went on for quite a while, until she moved back and pushed me back, her hand trailed through my chest, teasingly grazing through my nipples and slid down to my stomach, gripping the hem of my shirt and pulling it upward. All I did was oblige and she lifted my shirt off and tossed it behind her. She then left my chest and grabbed my shoulders, guiding me to rest my back on the couches' arm rest as she crawled towards me, giving my chest a soft kiss, slowly trailing down just below my belly button. Her eyes looked at me and our gazes met, she smiled menacingly as she grips my cock through my pants and slowly rubs it. I let out short and fast pants as she slowly yanked my pants down while I quickly pulled it off my feet and kicked it away.

Her index finger slowly circled around my shaft as she spread my precum around it and moved her mouth and began to devour it whole. My mind began to blur as I let out a huge sigh, my hand moved her hair and tucked it behind her ear. Her warm tongue welcomed my cock as it licked the shaft like an ice cream cone, then started circling around it finishing her act by going deeper into her mouth. Fuck, I wanted to cum so bad but I shouldn't, so as soon as I felt it drawing close, I yanked her hair up. She didn't flinch. I was expecting her to be mad at me, but all she did was flash a wide grin on her face and all I could ever do is slowly get up and quickly push her to the other side of the couch and pin her.

I pressed my whole body into her and my hand quickly unclasped her bra, setting her impressively huge tits free. Grabbing her breast, I quickly leaned into her mouth and kissed her angrily, growling inside her as our tongues clashed inside each other. My hand slowly let go of her chest and my mouth slowly trailed down to her dripping wet pussy, angrily pulling her panties down and tossed it behind me. I started playing with her pussy by giving it soft licks, my tongue barely touching her inner senses, then I applied a little bit pressure, followed by steady repeated licks on one area while my fingers spread open her labia.

I stopped and guided her to sit on the couch properly as I sat next to her, spreading her legs wide and let my fingers enter her, feeling the warmth and tightness of her pussy. I stopped a moan from escaping her mouth as I kissed her while my hands played inside her. I picked up the pace and all she could do was pant and cup my face, letting me kiss her as she moans inside my mouth while I continue to pleasure her using my fingers. I grinned at her and kissed her tits, my heart racing as I felt her getting excited at the effect I have on her right now.

"Oh. My. Fuck. Matt." she moaned in between pants, her voice quavered giving me the motivation to move my fingers faster, as I hear the sound of her pussy and my fingers compliment each other. She arched her back as I steadily pleasured my mouth on her right breast.

"So good.." she whimpered as I felt her wetness in my fingers and moved my lips back to hers, my fingers now moved slowly inside her. She panted and straddled herself on my lap, facing me with lust sparklin on her eyes as she gripped my cock and guided it slowly in her. Her wetness easily drenched my shaft as my mind went hazy when she quickly sat on my cock, letting out a soft yelp as she bounced on top of me. She started it slowly, letting us moan 'haa' at different intervals, as she circles her hips while slowly sitting on my cock. All I could do was open my mouth in pleasure, while looking at her maneuvering my cock like a cowgirl.

My mind will never forget this memory of her, riding on my cock and her tits bouncing in front of me while I held onto her waist. Ever since she picked up her pace, our soft 'haa's turned into loud 'aah's as the sound her ass clapping with my thighs rang on my ears. She continued to bounce as she leaned forward to me, letting our foreheads meet and eyes steadily lock in each other.

"Holy shit, you're still amazing." I whispered and all she could reply was a kiss, another long kiss while my hips met with her bounces. I felt my orgasm close, so I broke the kiss to warn her. "I'm about to c-" she cut me off with another kiss, as I felt my cock release waves of hot cum inside her, feeling her tighten me as we slowly ease the pace until it stopped. As soon as I pulled my cock, I saw her pussy drip down my cum, a smile escaping my face while I pant.

"I guess this is goodbye?" I whispered as I asked her for one last kiss, and she obliged, giving me the closure I needed to move on. Funny story is, we had more steamy sex after that, in the kitchen, on the bed and even on the floor, I even sneaked into her while she showered. But at the end of the day, I managed to delete her name from my contacts, along with unsubscribing on her notifications and washing the sheets she used to sleep on. Later that day, I looked at the sky as her plane flew past the building and took a deep breath. I guess first love never dies, but then again not all first loves are not meant for you.

[nahimjustfeelingit-writes]

Creed Imagine:

Adonis Creed notices the reader in the gym because of how quick her hands are in the boxing ring

“Damn, you hella nice.”

She didn’t respond right away, helping her opponent off the ground.

“Thanks.” She gave him a tired smile, wiping sweat from her forehead and neck.

“No problem. I haven’t seen you around here before,” Adonis was impressed, “I mean I haven’t even heard about you either. With hands like that maybe I should have.”

Removing her gloves, she exits the ring, finally face to face with Adonis. At first glance, you would never think she was skilled like that. Her body looked so soft and round but her rage in that ring made you rethink the stereotype. Just because you don’t look like a boxer, doesn’t mean you aren’t one.

“I do it more so for hobby. And you haven’t seen me around because I’m not from Philly.”

He could tell as soon as he heard her voice.

“Boston?”

“Yes.”

“Why Philly?”

“School.”

Her eyes squinted when she noticed who she was talking to. That same glint that people got in their eyes was the same look she was giving him. He was a celebrity, he couldn’t complain.

“You’re Adonis Creed. Wow, I’m talking to a favorite of mine, hello, I’m Y/N.”

She held out her soft hand, nails painted black.

“Nice to meet you, sweetheart.”

Y/N fanned herself, laughing nervously afterward. She must have a crush on him.

“I’m...I’m shocked really that you are impressed with my skills. I mean, never would I think of running into Adonis Creed in Philly.”

“My Legacy is being fulfilled here, I ain’t going no where yet.”

“That’s good to hear, I would love to spar with you sometime. You could give me pointers.”

Adonis flashes his dimpled smile to make her blush. One things for sure, he enjoys teasing women.

“I don’t think you need my help, ma, you got that shit on lock already.”

Y/N waved him away, disbelieving that she was that good to not need his assistance.

“I’m being serious. Look, how about this...how about we just spar together just to do it? You seem like a challenge.”

Y/N’s tongue grazed the inside of her cheek to fight off a wide grin. She was adorable, the type of chick Adonis likes. A woman that can handle her own. Boxing isn’t easy, but the way she moved in that ring it was like a dance. Boxing with Y/N was art.

“We can do that, just as long as I’m working with you in some ways.”

No one could tell them to get out of the ring. Playful jabs turned into good conversation and showing off of skills. Adonis couldn’t help but to fall into the habit of showing Y/N some things. She took a few pointers and showed Adonis how she could do it. Cross, Jab, upper cut, hooks, all and everything. She had a style where she liked to focus on the body, much like Drago.

“Damn!” Adonis clutched his ribs, a little sore there from previous damage, “Aight, Aight. I think you’re tryna put me back in the hospital.”

“Can’t keep up, Creed?” She hopped from side to side, shaking out her fists. The stamina on this thick girl was something.

“Nah, I’m fucking beat. We been at this for two hours and that’s not even counting the few hours I was already here.”

Donnie gets out of the ring, his eyes finally noticing the emptiness of the gym minus the hushed voices of what appeared to be Rocky and his veteran crew of boxers having a chess game in his office.

“Rocky seems so chill.”

Her silky voice commanded him to turn around and meet her chocolate eyes.

“I’ve always wanted to ask for help but,” she shook her head, grabbing a towel to wipe her face and neck with.

“What’s stopping you?”

“Rejection.”

Adonis picked up on the nervous tone of her voice.

“You think he just jumped at the chance to work with me? Nah, he denied every offer I gave. Eventually, he changed his mind and I’m grateful for that but it could have been a continuous no. I didn’t back down though, I wanted my shot...needed my fucking shot.”

“And now you’re a weapon,” she looked up at him through her sweaty lashes, the side of her lips quirked showing off the tiny dimple she had on the side of her lip. Taking his time to admire her, Adonis noticed a light sprinkling of freckles over her hazelnut skin. Frizzy jet black hair and thick unruly brows made her skin and eyes pop. His mind tried to focus on how soft her hand looked instead of the obvious nipple piercings she had poking through her thin Nike pro fit sports bra.

“I remember when you said I’m Dangerous. You remember that? You said it before your first fight with Drago, during that interview. I saw the pain in your eyes. I’m not gonna ask how it was to see his father face to face. But I just...I know that pain.”

Adonis was curious to know what she meant by knowing. Did she loose someone too? Did that loss make her channel that anger in punching a bag or knocking her opponent down in the ring?

Y/N let’s out a tired sigh, “Look at me, ruining the chemistry.” She slaps her forehead, “I’m such a damn goof.”

“The pain ain’t something to hold onto, it doesn’t make the wounds heal in the end,” Donnie touches Y/N’s shoulder, stroking it gently to make her feel more at ease. Y/N shakes her head in embarrassment, using both of her hands to stroke her frizzy curls.

“Thanks for staying behind with me.” Y/N didn’t quite look at Adonis when she said that, feeling that she made herself look weak in front of him. Adonis saw the complete opposite. Whatever she went through she was strong enough to keep it caged. Whatever was caged, the tiny scar on her shoulder blade was the forbidden memories.

“Can we...do this again?” Adonis didn’t fuck around, he liked Y/N’s company. It wasn’t just her fighting skills, it was her entire energy. He hadn’t felt this way since Bianca and that was long finished.

“You really didn’t need to ask,” she finally let him see her chocolate eyes, “just let me know when and I’ll be here.”

“Or...we could be sitting in a carry out eating Philly cheesesteaks and sipping strawberry lemonade?”

He shrugs his shoulders, fighting a smile but nibbling on his pouty bottom lip. Y/N made an expression that showed she hadn’t expected that. Mouth opening and closing, she battled with her voice box to produce some form of a yes, of course, fuck yeah, I’m down.

She just settled for nodding her head like one of those cheap Hawaiian bobble dolls on dashboards, untamed curls falling over her eyebrows. He hadn’t meant to render her speechless but he wasn’t going to lie and say he didn’t enjoy it. She looked just as sexy Lost for words as she did in the ring all sweaty and breathless.

“You wanna go tonight? It’s only 8.”

He couldn’t just go home to his big industrial loft without getting to know this flame more. Maybe she would tell him why she decided to take up boxing as a hobby. If she said no the part of him that couldn’t take no for an answer would wait in his matte black mustang after she had a steamy shower, seeing that she made it to her car safely. He loved Philly but it wasn’t a wonderland. It was the real world, unfortunate things happen.

“Donnie,” she smiled up at him, “DUH.”

They both laughed. Catching the attention of Rocky in his office. He gave Adonis a look before grinning, returning to his game of chess.

“Okay, let me get cleaned up and we can go, okay?” She didn’t even look back as she jogged to the women’s locker room. Adonis felt that same butterfly effect in his stomach. He missed that feeling and to see that another woman could make him feel that gave him hope.

[bthenoise]

Live Show Memories: The Last Concerts Your Favorite Bands Attended Before Lockdown

Welp, we’ve officially (and sadly) reached the one-year mark without any live shows. While we know how much of a bummer this can be to think about -- trust us, we know -- we have decided to try and spin this in a lighter, much more positive manner. 

Instead of mourning the fact that no one’s been to a “real” live show in over 365 days, how about we look back at some of our last concerts and remember the good times? You know, like when we saw Thrice play Vheissu on their 15-year anniversary tour and we screamed our lungs out to “The Earth Will Shake.” 

Looking to compile other fun last show memories, we reached out to bands like State Champs, Neck Deep, August Burns Red, Wage War, The Spill Canvas and more to see what some of their last shows were like. 

To see which band members paused their live music run watching Panic! At The Disco or Tool or even Ariana Grande, be sure to look below. 

TYLER SZALKOWSKI - STATE CHAMPS

WHO DID YOU SEE: Dan + Shay and The Band Camino

WHERE WAS IT: Nationwide Arena, Columbus, OH

WHEN WAS IT: March 8th, 2020

HOW WAS IT: Absolutely incredible. It was my second time seeing TBC and like my 5th or 6th seeing D+S and both bands are so freakin’ good live. It was also very cool to see D+S on their own headline arena gig. Big bada$$ production and all that!!

BONUS - WHO'S THE FIRST BAND YOU WANT TO SEE POST-PANDEMIC THAT ISN'T YOUR OWN: I would love to see the 1975!! They’re so good live. Would be a hell of a first gig back!

MATT WEST - NECK DEEP

WHO DID YOU SEE: Blink-182

WHERE WAS IT: Brooklyn, NY

WHEN WAS IT: September 19th, 2019

HOW WAS IT: The show was bittersweet as it was the last date of our tour with Blink-182. I remember the show [being] amazing though, Blink came out and took apart Dani's kit halfway through our last song. Ben got to sing with Blink, so a great way to cap off the tour.

BONUS - WHO'S THE FIRST BAND YOU WANT TO SEE POST-PANDEMIC THAT ISN'T YOUR OWN: Honestly, fucking anybody, I've forgotten what a gig feels like.

WILL LEVY - THE STORY SO FAR / COLD MOON

WHO DID YOU SEE: The last show I went to I saw the band Young Guv perform and they kicked major ass. 

WHERE WAS IT: Rebel Lounge in Phoenix, Arizona.

WHEN WAS IT: The show was on March 10th, 2020. 

HOW WAS IT: The show rocked, I think most of us knew that some major change was on the horizon so we lived out the moment to its fullest potential and partied until the sun came up. 

BONUS - WHO'S THE FIRST BAND YOU WANT TO SEE POST-PANDEMIC THAT ISN'T YOUR OWN: I think I'm most excited to see either HAIM or Billie Eilish once the pandemic is over.

TYLER POSEY

WHO DID YOU SEE: KUT U UP

WHERE WAS IT: San Diego!!!

WHEN WAS IT: Feb 29th, 2020

HOW WAS IT: There was a documentary blink-182 made called Riding In Vans With Boys that featured KUT U UP. This documentary changed my life. Getting to watch KUT U UP AND PLAY WITH THEM!!! Fucking dream come true. I crowd surfed the entire bar.

BONUS - WHO'S THE FIRST BAND YOU WANT TO SEE POST-PANDEMIC THAT ISN'T YOUR OWN: I would really love to see phem perform. I’ve gotten really close with her and her music and want to mosh to all of it. Even if I’m by myself.

JB BRUBAKER - AUGUST BURNS RED

WHO DID YOU SEE: Jimmy Eat World

WHERE WAS IT: The Capitol Room at HMAC, Harrisburg, PA

WHEN WAS IT: November 12, 2019

HOW WAS IT: The show was fun. It was a sold out show in a 1,000 capacity venue so it felt intimate. Jimmy Eat World sounds great live and always play well. I went with my wife and our bass player Dustin and his girlfriend. They played all the hits and some fun deep cuts we weren’t expecting!

BONUS - WHO'S THE FIRST BAND YOU WANT TO SEE POST-PANDEMIC THAT ISN'T YOUR OWN: Milky Chance

TINO ARTEAGA - OF MICE & MEN

WHO DID YOU SEE: Ghostemane

WHERE WAS IT: The Observatory OC, Orange County, CA

WHEN WAS IT: Around Halloween 2019

HOW WAS IT: Absolutely insane! Listening to his albums is one thing but seeing him live & how loud the bass is & how hard the band goes is next level. The audience goes absolutely bananas as well. It was a really cool performance!

BONUS - WHO'S THE FIRST BAND YOU WANT TO SEE POST-PANDEMIC THAT ISN'T YOUR OWN: Would love to go to Furnace Fest to see all the OG metalcore bands perform later this year.

PORTER MCKNIGHT - ATREYU

WHO DID YOU SEE:  Nothing More

WHERE WAS IT: House of Blue New Orleans

WHEN WAS IT: 2019

HOW WAS IT: Honestly, if you’ve never seen this band live you’re missing out! Atreyu were off tour so I drove from my home in Alabama to New Orleans and treated myself to a show. We had recently played ShipRocked with Nothing More, but this show blew that one out of the water! Such an energetic, captivating, and honest performance.

BONUS - WHO'S THE FIRST BAND YOU WANT TO SEE POST-PANDEMIC THAT ISN'T YOUR OWN: Literally ANY BAND… but Nothing More, Turnstile, or Sturgill Simpson would rule.

WAGE WAR

CODY QUISTAD 

WHO DID YOU SEE: Dan + Shay, The Band Camino and Ingrid Andress

WHERE WAS IT: Bridgestone Arena. Nashville, Tennessee

WHEN WAS IT: March 7, 2020

HOW WAS IT: It was incredible! Truly one of the best shows I’ve been to.

BONUS - WHO'S THE FIRST BAND YOU WANT TO SEE POST-PANDEMIC THAT ISN'T YOUR OWN: LANY

SETH BLAKE 

WHO DID YOU SEE: The Acacia Strain, Rotting Out, Creeping Death, Chamber, Fuming Mouth, & Scatter Shot.

WHERE WAS IT: Soundbar, Orlando FL.

WHEN WAS IT: March 5th, 2020. HOW WAS IT: The show was great. Super high-energy crowd packed into an intimate venue. Had a great time watching the bands with a few good friends. I just wish I would have known it was my last concert for the next year+!

BONUS - WHO'S THE FIRST BAND YOU WANT TO SEE POST-PANDEMIC THAT ISN'T YOUR OWN: Kublai Khan

CHRIS GAYLORD

WHO DID YOU SEE: Polaris, Wage War, Crystal Lake, Alpha Wolf

WHERE WAS IT: The Tivoli - Brisbane, QLD Australia

WHEN WAS IT: February 29th, 2020

HOW WAS IT: It was our last night on tour together. I remember the show being a blast and the hang backstage being even better. We formed some lasting friendships with Polaris in the US and in Australia and had mixed emotions not knowing the next time we would see each other... not knowing the pandemic would follow.

BONUS - WHO'S THE FIRST BAND YOU WANT TO SEE POST-PANDEMIC THAT ISN'T YOUR OWN: Architects / Spiritbox

STEPHEN KLUESENER

Last show I saw: A Day To Remember, Falling in Reverse, Fever 333, and Whitechapel

Where: Self Help Fest, Worcester Massachusetts 

When: Fall 2019

HOW WAS IT: Weather was perfect, crowd was strong, and ADTR destroyed at the end of the night. It was the first time they had played “Rescue Me” live. 

BONUS - WHO'S THE FIRST BAND YOU WANT TO SEE POST-PANDEMIC THAT ISN'T YOUR OWN: One of the first bands I want to see when gigs return is Polaris.

JOSH SMITH - NORTHLANE

WHO DID YOU SEE: Tool

WHERE WAS IT: Margaret Court Arena, Melbourne

WHEN WAS IT: Honestly I don’t even remember dude, like everything is a blur since COVID started. This is the last show that I remember. It was about a year ago with some change.

HOW WAS IT: It was incredible. The best production, sound and show I have ever seen. Tool are one of my favorite bands and I had never seen them live after being a fan for 15+ years. I was left absolutely speechless. Mind blown, nothing comes close.

BONUS - WHO'S THE FIRST BAND YOU WANT TO SEE POST-PANDEMIC THAT ISN'T YOUR OWN: Honestly I’d love to just see Tool again!

NICK VENTIMIGLIA - GRAYSCALE 

WHO DID YOU SEE: The Get Up Kids and Dashboard Confessional

WHERE WAS IT: Saint Andrew’s Hall in Detroit, MI

WHEN WAS IT: March 3rd & 4th, 2020

HOW WAS IT: I went to both nights back-to-back actually. It was the 20 year Dashboard anniversary so Chris Carrabba played A Mark, A Mission, A Brand, A Scar in its entirety one night and then The Places You Have Come to Fear The Most in its entirety, both sets with some other stuff sprinkled in. I’m a big fan of both bands but it was good to see a lot of these songs I wouldn’t have been able to see probably ever again. There’s nothing better than singing at the top of your lungs to songs that shaped you as a musician and a person in general. My brother Lupe Bustos (The Maine/Dashboard photo) met us after the second night and we all went out with him and the Dashboard guys to have drinks, it was a blast.

BONUS - WHO'S THE FIRST BAND YOU WANT TO SEE POST-PANDEMIC THAT ISN'T YOUR OWN: I almost don’t care who it is, I’d just like to get to a show. I’d love to see The Night Game, I would kill to see Poison the Well again at some point. I saw recently they’re playing Furnace Fest in Alabama so I’m glad they’re doing shows again. Honestly, any show will do at this point!

SCOTT CAREY - HOLDING ABSENCE 

WHO DID YOU SEE: The 1975

WHERE WAS IT: The Motorpoint Arena, Cardiff

WHEN WAS IT: 23rd Feb 2020 - Right in the middle of recording our new album The Greatest Mistake Of My Life!

HOW WAS IT: Best band I’ve ever seen live. They played a load of older, slower songs which I love. I had to come home from the studio for the day to see them as I wasn’t missing the show - very glad I didn’t miss it!

BONUS - WHO'S THE FIRST BAND YOU WANT TO SEE POST-PANDEMIC THAT ISN'T YOUR OWN: I’ve been spinning the new Teenage Wrist record a LOT recently so I’d love to see them. Or The Cure as I’ve never seen them live!

THE SPILL CANVAS

NICK THOMAS 

WHO DID YOU SEE: Noah Gundersen

WHERE WAS IT: The Social - Orlando, FL

WHEN WAS IT: Feb 21st, 2020

HOW WAS IT: His performance was by far one of the most inspiring things I've ever seen. I had the goosebump waves nearly every song. It was stunning what he was able to do with just his voice and an acoustic.

BONUS - WHO'S THE FIRST BAND YOU WANT TO SEE POST-PANDEMIC THAT ISN'T YOUR OWN: Circa Survive on their Blue Sky Noise anniversary tour. It's my favorite album by them, and although I've seen them countless times, it's been quite a while.

LANDON HEIL 

WHO DID YOU SEE: Panic! At The Disco.

WHERE WAS IT: Fiserv Forum - Milwaukee, WI

WHEN WAS IT: Jan 27, 2019

HOW WAS IT: I don’t attend concerts much when I’m off tour, but our old guitarist Mike had just joined Panic and was able to get my wife and I some tickets. It was really exciting and slightly surreal to see Mike performing in such a massive venue. They put on an excellent show and we had a great time.  

BONUS - WHO'S THE FIRST BAND YOU WANT TO SEE POST-PANDEMIC THAT ISN'T YOUR OWN: Still need to see John Mayer or Jimmy Eat World live.

BRYCE JOB

WHO DID YOU SEE: Pinegrove

WHERE WAS IT: Icon - Sioux Falls, SD

WHEN WAS IT: Sept 16th, 2019

HOW WAS IT: I absolutely loved being able to experience them in such an intimate setting. They played an extended set and took requests called out by the crowd.

BONUS - WHO'S THE FIRST BAND YOU WANT TO SEE POST-PANDEMIC THAT ISN'T YOUR OWN: In South Dakota we don’t have a ton of options for entertainment but I have the chance to see Willie Nelson in August. If it doesn’t get canceled, I’m probably not going to pass it up. 

EVAN PHARMAKIS

WHO DID YOU SEE: Hot Water Music & The Menzingers

WHERE WAS IT: St Augustine Amphitheater - St. Augustine, FL

WHEN WAS IT: Oct 2019

HOW WAS IT: The show was phenomenal. I’ve been fortunate enough to catch Hot Water Music a handful of times over the years, and this last time I saw them they gave another great performance. The Menzingers were killer as well.

BONUS - WHO'S THE FIRST BAND YOU WANT TO SEE POST-PANDEMIC THAT ISN'T YOUR OWN: I’d love to catch Phoebe Bridgers again, she’s wonderful live. Also would really love to see Alexisonfire tear up a stage again too.

HYRO THE HERO

WHO DID YOU SEE: It was Dia De Los Deftones. I got to go see Megan Thee Stallion, Gojira, Chvches, and Deftones WHERE WAS IT: Petco Park in San Diego 

WHEN WAS IT: Late 2019 I believe

HOW WAS IT: Such a great time with the epic lineup. The vibes were incredible and also went backstage to kick it and say waddup to Chino and the fam.

BONUS - WHO'S THE FIRST BAND YOU WANT TO SEE POST-PANDEMIC THAT ISN'T YOUR OWN: Beartooth 

LAUREN SANDERSON

WHO DID YOU SEE: Ariana Grande

WHERE WAS IT: Los Angeles / The Forum

WHEN WAS IT: December 22, 2019

HOW WAS IT: Incredible. Amazing vocals, amazing show, amazing choreo. God is truly a woman.

BONUS - WHO'S THE FIRST BAND YOU WANT TO SEE POST-PANDEMIC THAT ISN'T YOUR OWN: My top 3 would be Meg Thee Stallion, Doja Cat and Machine Gun Kelly. But honestly, at that point, I’m gonna be down to go see literally anyone.

ALEX MAGNAN - YOUNG CULTURE 

WHO DID YOU SEE: Have Mercy (their last show), Idle Wave, we also played the show

WHERE WAS IT: Hard Luck, Toronto, ON

WHEN WAS IT: March 15, 2020

HOW WAS IT: It was such a weird feeling, we didn’t know for certain what was going on yet but we could tell that it was gonna be the last show of the tour. By the time the show started and the turn out wasn’t the greatest, we knew this was something serious. Show was a blast nevertheless and I was glad to leave it on a good one.

BONUS - WHO'S THE FIRST BAND YOU WANT TO SEE POST-PANDEMIC THAT ISN'T YOUR OWN:  Phoebe Bridgers (not a band but still)

DANIEL SEYMOUR - WAXFLOWER 

WHO DID YOU SEE: The Menzingers

WHERE WAS IT: The Zoo, Brisbane

WHEN WAS IT: March 2020, the night of my birthday!

HOW WAS IT: Brilliant! I think it's become even better in hindsight. The memory has aged like a fine wine after the struggles of the past 12 months. Seeing one of my favourite artists surrounded by the people I loved was the best way to celebrate a “last show.”

BONUS - WHO'S THE FIRST BAND YOU WANT TO SEE POST-PANDEMIC THAT ISN'T YOUR OWN: Being in Australia, it feels like a while before overseas acts will be touring here BUT I'd love to see The 1975 or Enter Shikari as one of the first overseas acts to come here post-pandemic. The energy both those acts bring will surely make up for months without live music!

MALIA ENDRES - GLACIER VEINS

WHO DID YOU SEE: My last show was our own show with Overgrow and Mouth Movements.

WHERE WAS IT: Donato’s Basement in Columbus, OH

WHEN WAS IT: Right before everything shut down in March. 

HOW WAS IT: There was definitely some interesting energy because of the uncertainty yet growing concern of COVID, but we knew it was going to be our last show of that tour so I really took in the joy and excitement of our performance. It was also really sweet to spend the last show with our Common Ground Collective family Jake from Overgrow and our agent John Rausch. 

BONUS - WHO'S THE FIRST BAND YOU WANT TO SEE POST-PANDEMIC THAT ISN'T YOUR OWN: Winter! She put out my favorite album of 2020 so I am looking forward to seeing those songs live. 

COLIN JACQUES - WE WERE SHARKS

WHO DID YOU SEE: Anti-Flag, Grade 2 & Positive Charge

WHERE WAS IT: The 27 Club Ottawa - Ottawa, ON

WHEN WAS IT: March 11th, 2020

HOW WAS IT: Amazing show. Anti-Flag is one of my childhood favourites and a pleasure to see at home in Canada. Awesome show in a 300 cap room before the world shut down for a full year.

BONUS - WHO'S THE FIRST BAND YOU WANT TO SEE POST-PANDEMIC THAT ISN'T YOUR OWN: My Chemical Romance

MAGGIE SCHNEIDER - GLIMMERS 

WHO DID YOU SEE: Rex Orange County

WHERE WAS IT: The Tabernacle in Atlanta

WHEN WAS IT: The last week of February 2020

HOW WAS IT: It was so much fun. I went with my best friend Natalie after a very long day. We danced the entire time and had no idea that’d be our last show. 

BONUS - WHO'S THE FIRST BAND YOU WANT TO SEE POST-PANDEMIC THAT ISN'T YOUR OWN: My Chemical Romance, pretty please! 

CHRISTIAN NEONAKIS - MY KID BROTHER

WHO DID YOU SEE: Modest Mouse

WHERE WAS IT: The Anthem in DC

WHEN WAS IT: Late 2019

HOW WAS IT: It was such a good night... they had always been one of my all-time fave bands so seeing them at such a sweet venue was a dream. 

BONUS - WHO'S THE FIRST BAND YOU WANT TO SEE POST-PANDEMIC THAT ISN'T YOUR OWN: Would love to see Tame Impala or Portugal. The Man next, can't pick between the two.

BENJI SPOLIANSKY - NOT A TOY

WHO DID YOU SEE: Tyler the Creator 

WHERE WAS IT: It was at Red Rocks in Morrison, CO which is one of the greatest places to see a show in the world.

WHEN WAS IT:  It was in October of 2019 :( 

HOW WAS IT: It was incredible. Tyler is extremely funny on stage and he actually slipped and fell while performing. 

BONUS - WHO'S THE FIRST BAND YOU WANT TO SEE POST-PANDEMIC THAT ISN'T YOUR OWN: The first show I want to go to isn't necessarily for just one [band]. I just want to go to a hardcore show and rage my fucking face off!

BRADLEY KEARSLEY- CARPOOL TUNNEL

WHO DID YOU SEE: The last band I went to see was The Red Pears! 

WHERE WAS IT: Brick and Mortar in San Francisco.

WHEN WAS IT: February 25th, 2020... I think!

HOW WAS IT: After we played with The Red Pears in Reno, they offered me to come out to their show in San Francisco which one of my friends' bands were opening up for. I remember coming into the venue and seeing so many people that I knew, something I really miss having these days. They absolutely killed it and it was somebody in the band's birthday, so the whole crowd sang him happy birthday. I just remember dancing and having a great time.

BONUS - WHO'S THE FIRST BAND YOU WANT TO SEE POST-PANDEMIC THAT ISN'T YOUR OWN: I really want to see the band Loving again. I was able to catch them once at the Rickshaw Shop in San Francisco and it was one of my favorite show experiences to date! Can't wait to see them again.

NICK ZAWISA - BREAKUP SHOES

WHO DID YOU SEE: Summer Salt, Okey Dokey & we (Breakup Shoes) performed

WHERE WAS IT: Fox Theatre - Boulder, CO

WHEN WAS IT: 3/12/20

HOW WAS IT: An absolute blast of a show. It hadn’t been confirmed yet but with how serious the initial COVID-19 outbreak was seeming, we knew in the back of our heads that this was gonna be our final show of tour. We gave it our all on stage for our set and then made cameos as backup vocalists, dancers, percussionists, etc. during our tour-mates set, which made the night feel like something really special.

CAMM KNOPP - NEVER LOVED

WHO DID YOU SEE: The All-American Rejects

WHERE WAS IT: The Beacham in Orlando, FL

WHEN WAS IT: September 2019

HOW WAS IT: It was a great time. We actually just finished a writing session with Nick from AAR the week before so it was ironic they were in FL the following week.

BONUS - WHO'S THE FIRST BAND YOU WANT TO SEE POST-PANDEMIC THAT ISN'T YOUR OWN: Armor For Sleep!

LUCA MARGI - DREAMSHADE 

WHO DID YOU SEE: Bring Me The Horizon

WHERE WAS IT: FORUM ASSAGO / MILAN

WHEN WAS IT: 13.11.2018

HOW WAS IT: Powerful and exciting, awesome band to see live and lots of pyro!  

BONUS - WHO'S THE FIRST BAND YOU WANT TO SEE POST-PANDEMIC THAT ISN'T YOUR OWN: Architects

ROLY VELAZQUEZ - AVAT 

WHO DID YOU SEE: Bring Me the Horizon, Sleeping With Sirens, Poppy WHERE WAS IT: The Fillmore Miami Beach

WHEN WAS IT: October 2019 HOW WAS IT: It was amazing. It’s very inspiring to see a band in the rock/metal genre mobilize such a broad audience. 

BONUS - WHO'S THE FIRST BAND YOU WANT TO SEE POST-PANDEMIC THAT ISN'T YOUR OWN: Definitely Metallica. Getting to attend their drive-in concert was as close to the atmosphere of a show that most of us here in Miami got to experience.

TELLE SMITH - THE WORD ALIVE

The last show The Word Alive played was just over a year ago this week, at the Los Angeles Emo Nite. We had just wrapped an insanely successful tour with Falling In Reverse, had a day off in LA and then March 6th we had plans to celebrate the release of our album MONOMANIA with our friends, family, label and fans. We weren’t quite sure how the reception would be, given that we weren’t an iconic emo band which is who the majority of the music patrons come to listen and sing along to, which is what made the performance even more memorable.

Right when we went on stage the energy was amazing. To see how many friends, peers from the industry, and fans from all over came to celebrate with us really meant a lot.

I was just watching videos the other day from different posts fans had made, and you can hear how loudly they were singing the songs that had just been released -- some louder than any song we have ever had.

It was bittersweet because, while it reinforced in my head just how special our album was, it has been the only glimpse into the world of touring on MONOMANIA may have been like.

I’m very excited to get back at it with the boys once everything is safe and sound. And I have zero doubt in my mind that it will feel a million times better than even our best show memory to date. See you there.

WATCH MORE:

[lu-undy]

Chapter 24 - SBT

Here it is!

"So, you're takin' me to the bloke you know?" The naked guard on the seat covered his dignity with his hands but Mundy had of course the decency to keep his eyes on the road. 

"Not just yet. We need to bring those 'gators back home and get rid of this truck. Otherwise, they'll find us." 

"Ah, right… Any chance they have some clothes where the alligators go?" The poor man asked. 

"Will ask." Mundy answered.

"Thanks." 

The truck roared through the desert. 

"Hm, we need to get out of the roads. Look in the glovebox, is there a map?" 

The man did as he was told. 

"Yep, there is…" 

"Spread it on your lap." Mundy said. "Cover yerself with it. I'll switch on the light inside to read it. It's the middle of the night now and we'd better drive as stealthily as we can with this beast of a truck."

"Alright, it's all set."

Mundy flipped a switch and slowed down. 

"We're here… Where's the reserve from here…? Oh, I see, we need to cut like this." Mundy turned the steering wheel and the heavy truck took its time to entirely run out of the asphalt. 

"What the hell are you doing?!" 

"Taking a shortcut. If we stay on the road, we'll meet with Duchemin's reinforcements and all this goes to the bin." 

"Alright…!" The poor naked man held onto the truck door as Mundy let his foot dive more on the gas pedal.

"The asphalt's good for the tyres but honestly, the desert is flat and  hard. I drive through it a lot. I know what I'm doing." 

"Right, good to know."

Mundy continued to drive, casting a glance at the map from time to time.

"By the way, name's Eric, you?" 

Mundy chuckled. 

"So all it takes is to get your arse naked, eh? I'm M."

Eric laughed. 

"Well, what can I say…? We had to get to know each other quite well and fast, didn't we?" 

"Yeah, guess you're right." Mundy answered. 

"M, uh… If you know how dangerous Duchemin is, why go after him? You and your mate will die." 

"He isn't my mate. I don't know him." 

"Ha, funny, he said the same thing." 

Mundy looked at the man next to him. 

"D'you have any idea who he is?" He asked Eric.

"Not more than you. The bloke knows how to torture people, I can tell you that much. I can also tell you that he'll end up like you if both of you don't stop this nonsense. You can't go after Duchemin, no one can, not even the police!" 

"They can't cause they need reasons and papers."

"You don't?" Eric asked. 

"I don't need papers." 

"So you have reasons? Ah, I guess the animals."

"They're not the main thing. But yeah. Ah, look, that's it, Johnson's place." 

"Yeah, I recognise this area. That's where we took the alligators from." Eric said. 

Mundy parked the truck as best as he could. 

"Right, you stay here. I'll go wake him up and I'll ask for something to put on for you." 

"Okay." Eric answered. 

Mundy hopped off the truck and went to the big black wrought-iron gate. He ran the bell again and again until the butler with his pyjamas and dressing gown opened the house's front door. He shouted from there.

"Who is it and what is it? I will call the police if you don't stop on the spot!" 

"Calm down, Johnny, wasn't it? It's me, M. I have Johnson's alligators. You guys need to get them out of the truck now!" 

"What?! Now?!"

"Unless you want the house to be a sieve with bullet holes, yeah, right now!" 

"Alright, alright, I'll wake Mister Johnson up."

"And Johnny?" 

"Yes?" 

"Get me a shirt and a pair of trousers." 

"What?" The butler, who was half asleep, frowned. 

"Chop, chop!" Mundy clapped his hands and it was enough to pull Johnny out of Morpheus's arms.

A few minutes later, Johnson was out in a dressing gown too. He had phoned the people who work at his reserve and they were on their way. 

"Goddamn it, M, couldn't you wait for the mornin'?" He asked. 

"D'you sleep with your cigar?" Mundy asked back, seeing how the old man chewed on it. 

Johnson growled for an answer. 

"Here are the clothes you asked for." Johnny joined them in front of the truck with a pile of folded clothes. Mundy took them and knocked on the truck door, on the passenger's side. The window rolled down and Johnson and his butler saw a naked arm sink down and grab the clothes that Mundy held. 

"What the…" Johnson's cigar fell from his lips.

"He helped." Mundy simply said and the first few zookeepers arrived. 

While they got busy with the alligators, Mundy explained roughly the situation. 

“I need to give you your alligators but I suspect some of them aren't yours."

"What d'you mean?" Johnson asked. 

"There are more than the number of alligators you have." 

As soon as Mundy finished his sentence, one of Johnson's zookeepers came to them. 

"We've found half a dozen alligators more than what we expected, and they're a different species. We put them in a different enclosure."

"I might know who they belong to." Mundy said. "You're sure they're alligators? Are they not crocodiles?" 

"You're right they're actually crocs. Who owns them?" 

"The West reserve, the reptile one. I mean, it used to be only reptiles, now they're much bigger." Mundy answered, thinking about Matt's missing crocs. "Can you keep them until tomorrow? I'll contact them and they'll take them back."

The zookeeper looked at Johnson. 

"Yeah, we'll keep them. But not for long, eh?" The old man said. 

"They should be gone quickly, don't worry." Mundy reassured him.

"Also, we're done, the truck is empty." 

"Great. Now, debt's erased." Mundy said.

"Debt's goddamn erased." Johnson extended his hand for Mundy to shake it.  

"You have a phone I can use, Johnson?" Mundy asked.

The old man gestured Johnny who showed Mundy inside. He grabbed the phone at the entrance and dialed the number he still knew by heart.

"C'mon… C'mon… Ugh… Eddy? Eddy, yeah, I'll need a few things. Yeah, it can't wait, listen here…"

-- Next morning --

Mundy woke up later than usual. Well, he had found his bed as the first rays of light of the day emerged from the East. 

"Good Lord…" 

He opened his van's backdoor, wearing nothing but a pair of boxer shorts and sighed in relief when he realised that yes, he had had the courage to drive to the lake. 

After a quick bath to wash him from his previous adventure, Mundy was back at the diner for his breakfast. 

"Hey there! How can I help?" 

It was the same waitress. 

"Some coffee and uh… What salads do you have here?" 

"We got one with just veggies, one with chicken - basically a Ceasar salad - and we have one with seafood." 

"Can I get the Ceasar, please?"

"Sure. I'll be a minute." 

Mundy looked through the window. He put his hands in his pockets when he felt something there. 

"What's that…? Ah, yeah…" 

It was a paper he had left on his dashboard. 

"Ah." 

It wasn't any odd advert, nah. He remembered it now. The waiter at the Queen Victoria had given it to him. The coupon for the next show from that French singer. 

"Hm." 

He should have thrown it away. He wouldn't go anyway. Nah. Putting up the awfully tight black suit, tying his hair again, all that jazz just to listen to that bloke? Nah… 

"Here we are, coffee and Caesar salad!" 

"Ah, thanks." 

"Enjoy!" 

Mundy nodded and took a good gulp of his coffee. Yes it was past lunchtime now, but he couldn't possibly start a day without some good old black caffeine. He started digging in his salad.

The dinner at the Queen Victoria wasn't that bad. Well, it wasn't a dinner per se, but rather a dessert, and God, whatever that fancy chocolate thing was, it was awfully good…! Not only that, but the atmosphere, the voice of that bloke… He had felt something. Mundy had felt something. 

And it wasn't distress, despair or solitude. It was something hot, something that sparked and tickled his insides. He had… liked it? The song had touched him, it had moved him, it had moved his insides, his feelings, the air he breathed had a different scent. 

Damn music and her charms. 

Mundy had thought that he had started his journey, healing from the loss of his parents. Accepting that job from Johnson and then later on discovering the identity of the man who had his parents killed… The punch he felt in his gut when he learnt that the man who did that ten years ago was just there, next door…! That had kicked the last bit of life in him. And if it was the last thing he did, so be it. He would find that man and end him. He would end him not like a man, but like some garbage.  Mundy himself would set aside his empathy and humanity and become no more than death itself. There is no reason why that man should receive mercy when he had given none to Mundy's parents and no doubt, countless others too. 

The Aussie sighed. With his thoughts rolling in his head, he had lost track of where that whole internal monologue had started… Ah! Yes! The ad for that concert. The coupon gave him half price on any dessert of his choice. In truth, he couldn't care less about the food. The last time he had eaten anything that had some taste, was that last dinner with his parents. Mac'n'cheese. It was as simple as that. Pasta, cream and cheese. Only his mother knew how to make it right. On all other occasions he had to eat it, it was always bland and tasteless. 

He frowned and as he looked down at his plate, Mundy found it empty. Hm. 

The last time he had eaten something that could compare to food, was in truth at the Queen Victoria, that chocolate cake, ten years after his mother's mac'n'cheese. He could do with a dessert right now. He wanted something sweet. 

Mundy stood up from his seat and went to the counter. He was about to pay what he owed but then looked at the young girl in front of him. Her badge read Victoria. Ha, everything leads to the word "Victoria" now, huh? 

"Can I, uh, can I get a muffin please, to take away?" He asked. 

"Sure! Which one?" 

"Chocolate, please." 

"Here we go!" She put one in a brown paper bag and handed it to him. "Have a nice day!" 

"Yeah, to you too." 

He spun on his heels and left the diner to go straight to his van. 

"Man found burnt in the old hangar! Who wants the latest edition! Ladies and gents! C'mon! Man found burnt in an old hangar! Police's puzzled once again!" The man who simply tried to sell his newspapers shouted loudly on the pavement as Mundy passed him. The Aussie winced at the sudden burst of noise in his ears. 

He hopped on his van in the parking lot and started to drive on his way to Matt's reserve. 

As he let the van drive him, he thought back about the events of the previous day. That mysterious French bloke was something. What was he actually? The man could shoot a gun without any problems, he could take a few blows too. And he wasn't afraid to torture Eric, that poor guard. Whatever that man was, he was dangerous, Mundy concluded in his head. But not that dangerous. After all, he had been caught by those mercenaries that Duchemin employed… 

When Mundy emerged from his daydream, the van stopped, and he found himself in front of the reserve. He hopped off the van and went to the secretary. 

"Hey there, could you call Matt for me, please?" He asked the blond lady. 

"Sure, your name?" 

"M." 

"Alright." She took a walkie-talkie. "Matt, there's a gentleman for you here, his name is M." 

There was a second of silence before the walkie-talkie answered. 

"Comin' right now."

The blond secretary put the device down and looked up at Mundy. 

"You may take a seat, he shouldn't be too long." 

"Thanks." 

And Mundy took the same seat he had been on a few weeks before now, waiting for his friend. He thought about Matt for a second when he remembered Phil. Ha! He should tell him that he found the alligators and he could stop being on the alert for them.

"M?" 

The door had opened and the young man burst in, dressed in khakis. 

"Hey, there."

"How're you doin'?" Matt asked. 

"Good. Uh, I've got some news for you, can we sit somewhere?" Mundy asked. 

"Sure, follow me." 

Matt led the way to a break room. 

"Take a seat, want anything to drink?" 

Mundy sat on one of the sofas.

"Just water, please. I've just had a coffee." 

"Alright." Matt went to the water machine. "So, what's up?" 

"I might have found your crocodiles, by accident." 

"What?!" Matt came with two glasses in his hand and gave one to Mundy before taking a seat next to him.

"I have about half a dozen, they're crocodiles alright. I just don't know if they're yours." Mundy said. 

"Mate, that's fantastic! Where are they? Where did you find them? Can I see them?" Matt's eyes sparkled with enthusiasm. 

"Oh, wow hold on, uh… Where they are is at Johnson's. I found his 'gators mixed with crocs so I just delivered everythin' there. Where I found them, you don't really need to know that, and if you can see them? O'course, just go there and I hope those are yours, otherwise I have half a dozen crocs in my hands and I don't have the space in my van, heh." 

"Man, that's amazing! It's like when I was a kid! You disappear and poof! When you reappear, you've got the beasts!" 

Mundy drank his water. 

"Don't get over-excited, mate. They might not be yours." 

"I'm almost sure they are. See, every other day I phone the other reserves and no one received any crocs since they disappeared. If anything, animals got stolen more and more as of late, and it's the expensive ones too! It tends to be endangered species, those with priceless fur and the likes…" 

"I know. I'm workin' on it." Mundy answered. 

Matt smiled. 

"It's so good to have you back, M, really." 

The Aussie softened and let his lips purse in a smile. 

"Yeah, feels good to be back too." He admitted. "Oh, by the way, has anybody else come here and asked about my alligators?" 

"No, no one, why?" 

"Oh, doesn't matter." Mundy stood up. "Right, I got some animals to find. Thanks for the water. Call Eddy at the hunting shop and let him know for the crocs, ok?" 

"Will do!" Matt answered and accompanied his guest back to his van. "Thanks again, mate, really. Those crocs were a family, mom, dad and a few kids who have grown up now. Really glad to have them back." 

Mundy had hopped in his van. 

"Glad I could help. Good luck with your work, mate." 

"Thanks, M, see ya!" Matt waved at the van that grew smaller and smaller as it went away. 

Mundy now needed to think. Eric had told him that the rest of the beasts were in the old sugar factory in the North part of town. He needed to check that, ah, and he needed to know what species there were and how many… Maybe one truck would be too much, or not enough. 

Speaking of the truck, Mundy hoped that Eddy had dealt with it. He had insisted long enough on the phone with him. 

"Burn it, blow it up, do whatever you want with it, no one needs to find it." He had said to a half asleep version of Eddy who still managed to be as talkative somehow, only slower…

But how could Mundy go there without too much trouble. Maybe he didn't need to go to the sugar factory, maybe he could just ask. 

The van turned to the dirty neighbourhood. Maurice might know a few things. Also, if he was to talk with him, maybe he could ask about that French bloke…?