#I had a phase in my early 20s where I was like hm. I think I’m too old for this behavior. now I’m like eh… yolo.

[shadwife]

I always get obsessed with some completely random ship when I’m stressed out. Like during my last accounting exams (tax 💀) I got really into sonknux for some reason. I just thought they were so cute together and absorbed every bit of content I could between studying, and then exams ended and I graduated and I snapped out of it like wtf they don’t even make any sense really. Then before my wedding I just got really into xzero… snapped out of it literally the day after the wedding was over like why did I make a pinterest board for megaman x yaoi?

[pennyserenade]

FIRST LINE GAME

Rules: List the first lines of your last 20 stories (if you have less than 20, just list them all!). See if there are any patterns. Choose your favorite opening line. Then tag 10 of your favorite authors!

tagged by my favorite domestic slut sister: @astroboots

PUBLISHED WORKS: 

scenes from a marriage (javi fic): The designs of misfortune carve themselves in the woodwork that is Colombia, marking and scarring a beautiful country for the sake of one man’s empire.

(a/n): i wrote this on a whim one night while just trying to write for the sake of writing and look where it’s got us.

freedom is just another word (frankie morales fic): Sometimes, Frankie could not stand himself. Really, despise himself. 

(a/n): i did this one because i’m cruel and a slut for angst

ungodly hour (agent whiskey fic): Her knees rest on his forearms, and she pushes his shoulders into the ground beneath him, earning a groan as his head bounces lightly off of the ground. 

(a/n): i wrote this one because i just wanted to write but i didn’t wanted to take a break from scenes. also, i was listening to the ungodly hour album and it makes me feel like a bad bitch so i had a desire to character a leading character that was one.

NOT PUBLISHED WORKS:

the world is yours (maxwell lord fic): Step ahead into the past. It was a meaningless, get-rich sentiment stamped on the box of each Polaroid camera they sent out, one that she’s seen a million times before but never felt the depth of until now; Maxwell has said it, willing away the accent she loves, and she knows that this is exactly what they’ve done: They’ve stepped back into a joyless, oppressive past in order to preserve some inkling of a meaningful future. 

(a/n): this will probably make a debut after i finish scenes and get somewhere with freedom. the step ahead into the past bit came from a poster at my work that i saw while i was on break. this is gonna be a fic exploring the beginnings of maxwell’s desire to be something, and i hope it covers the struggles he goes through a bit better than the film. also, i’m not gonna make him the villain as much as i am going to make him the anti-hero, because who can deny that michael corleone wasn’t a baddie once or twice hm ?

strobe lights (unpublished maxwell lord fic): It was a concoction of heavily artificial music--the sort that drips in materialism and would bling if sound was tangible--and Maxwell’s insistent stare that made her do it.

(a/n): this will probably never see the light of day because it has a no real meaning, but it’s older than any of the other stuff i’ve written for the p. characters. it was made before i created this blog, and just something that got the wheels in my head turning again.

scenes from a marriage (a very very early draft that i didn’t end up liking, javi fic): He had forgotten. Or she thought he had forgotten. She couldn’t be sure yet, but the hours kept ticking away, and he hadn’t shown up yet. Javier wasn’t ever the most timely man, but he was never this late.

a/n: what are my fics, if not angst preserving?

mama, you’ve been on my mind (a fic not belonging to the pedro fandom at all, but a story about two characters that my friend created): Something had gone taut inside of Henry the day he found out that Mari had gone missing. He’d worked hard to conceal it from Stella, expressing adequate amounts of concern and worry and frustration, but he never showed the absolute panic that rattled him to his very core. He didn’t want to upset her. Stella was a great woman, but no one could stand the shade of pale he would get when he was by himself, or the way he sobbed quietly thinking about her at night in the bathroom when he was alone and Stella was asleep. He hid it from her, something he had never, ever done with Stella, because he knew that this grief was more personal than he ever wanted her to know about.

(a/n): my friend gave me henry to write with her, and we attached pedro to his face to him, but the main story is about mari, a girl who henry had married when he was a younger. they divorced later on because they both came to the conclusion that mari loved women more than she ever would love him, but he never, ever stopped caring about her. mari eventually ends up getting murdered by one of her patients (she’s a therapist) because she rejects his advances, (but i promise the story doesn’t end there, because mari is very, very cool and my friend is such a bad ass writer, i just don’t want to give it all away). anyways, this takes place shortly after mari has gone missing. at this point, it has been about tenish years since henry and mari have split and he’s remarried to stella, a woman whom he loves dearly. henry and mari remained friends, and he’s not taking it well.

untitled mando fic: His first words to her had been these: It had to be done. They were muttered with such commitment and unwavering faith, she knew that he was a man who truly believed in whatever dogma he abided by. 

(a/n): this was the first thing i was gonna publish on here but everything i wrote felt odd and out of place, and i think i need a bit more time to set on this one before it goes anywhere.

let it be: (a story i was writing for a school contest but never finished): There came an awful, tightening sensation in the middle of her chest, so strong it felt like she was about to double over there, in front of all of these strangers.

(a/n): this was gonna be a story about a young woman who has just found out she was pregnant. i set it during the day that the beatles played there rooftop concert because i liked the idea of this young woman being surrounded by many people who’s eyes were glued to the sky because the beatles are playing their brand new fucking album, and she’s just coming undone. this is gonna expose me as a beatles stan and that’s okay.

diane’s a friend of mine (a story i didn’t remember writing until just now, doing this): It had all started with Diane, a woman who had loved him so passionately that he’d dated her twice. Diane was an intelligent woman with the tendency to date men who were far below her, and he wasn’t the exception as much as he was the rule. He remembered the way she didn’t mind his desire to be and do nothing on Sunday mornings, and the kind way she would trace his nose and smile approvingly before saying, “You’ve got the nose of greek gods, Francis.”

(a/n): this must’ve been written during my al pacino phase a couple of months back, and i think, as i scan over it, this is the story i wanted to write about an actor who has spent his entire life as someone else, just a plethora of different characters, so when he eventually retires, he begins to struggle with who he is. i think i wanted it to be told through the stories of women he’s loved during those years, because it’s the only time he remembers being himself. 

untitled roman sionis fic: roman sionis reminded frankie terribly of fredo corleone. he was void of that pure innocence—that essence of goodness that made fredo such a lovable character—but he had the stupidity. it was a stupidity that stopped him from being something more.

(a/n): i have written about thirty roman sionis drafts but none of them amounted to anything. i think the character is neat, and had a very big ewan mcgregor phase. 

an untitled fic set after the events of the panic in needle park, if anyone of you has seen that:  This is where I am. This is where my stuff is. The wind was biting this morning, reddening Bobby’s cheeks as he stood on the sidewalk waiting for Eileen.

(a/n): this was definitely during my al pacino phase, it’s about how bobby gets clean and has started life with another woman because he couldn’t stay with helen because they enabled each other too much. if i’m ever gonna do anything for any of you please let it be to turn you onto al pacino’s movies in the ‘70s. all of them are fantastic, and the panic in needle park the first installment. this movie lead to al giving his famed role as michael corleone later on, and it covers a lot of topics i didn’t expect, like drug addiction and poverty and i just think al pacino is amazing in it. i cannot believe that his first movie. here’s the link to the trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watchv=0ahe2zepONg&ab_channel=JulienPinault. drug tw and needle tw.

okay i think that is all i have and i know it’s not twenty but i can’t find any more.

tagging: @mourningbirds1, @disgruntledspacedad and anyone else who wants to do it because i think you’re all neat and lovely. 

[chinguwritings]

A 3RACHA Fan-Fiction

|| Ch 1 || Ch 2 || Ch 3 || Ch 4 || Ch 5 || Ch 6 ||

A/N: It’s finally here guys!! I know it took me a while, I was working on other fics but eventually I was able to get to this.😃  It’s expected to be 8 parts (may be subject to change), and it is MALE x MALE. Sorry for those of you who were expecting a y/n fic, but im a weeb and I love BL hehe. Also, it’s pride month so perfect timing, right? Later down the line I may write a 3racha x reader though, we’ll see. ~ Admin Kay

Chapter 1 - Confession

Genre: Angst, Fluff, Hanahaki AU

Rating: PG (swearing, mentions of sex)

Word Count: 2.9k

“And cut!” Chan exclaimed as he ended the recording, “Great job, J.one, you sounded really good today! I can tell you’ve been practicing.”

“T-thanks,” Jisung stuttered in response, rubbing the back of his neck as he stepped out of the recording room.

“Text me when you’re free again so we can work on the other songs, alright?” Chan smilied, giving Jisung a couple pats on the back, “I’ll see you later.”

“Alright, see you,” he replied quietly, taking a deep breath as he quickly made his way out of the studio. 

His heart was pounding at the sound of those kind words and praise about his rapping, and he couldn’t help but smile as he thought about how proud Chan looked. He loved knowing his hard work paid off, after all the long nights staying up past one in the morning trying to fix his rhythm and tone, repeating the lines over and over again until everything was absolutely perfect, all that for a simple ‘good job’… but it was hearing it from Chan that made all the difference; he wanted nothing more than to impress him.

“Hyung, I’m home,” Jisung announced, walking through the door and tossing his things aside before slumping into the couch. 

“How was the recording?” Changbin asked as he joined Jisung on the couch.

“It was great! Chan said he could tell I’ve been practicing,” Jisung bragged, a huge grin spread across his lips as he spoke.

“That’s good. Your late night practicing is paying off, then.”

“How do you know about that?”

“Because I can hear you? Your room is right next to mine and the walls aren’t that thick you know.”

“Oh… well, when is your next recording?”

“Tomorrow morning, so I’m gonna be practicing all night tonight.”

Jisung simply nodded in response, a tinge of jealousy slowly sinking in at the thought of Changbin spending time with Chan alone. He knew it was nothing to get worked up about, they all had to record together from time to time, but for some reason it still seemed to bother him. 

“Soo…” Changbin started, “are we going out for dinner today?”

“Hm… no, I’m good,” Jisung replied, “I’ll just find something in the fridge to eat.”

“Alright, let me know if you change your mind. I’m heading out.”

Jisung nodded at the older boy's words and watched as Changbin left the house. Once he was out of sight, Jisung scrambled for his phone and immediately dialled Chan, checking to see if maybe he would be free later.

“Hello?” he answered only after a few rings.

“Uh, hey, Chan… are you free later tonight? Do you think we could meet up? There’s something I want to tell you.”

“Um… I think I’m free after 8 o’clock. Is that okay with you, or is that too late?”

“Uh… actually can we meet later? Maybe… 11:30?”

“11:30?!” Chan exclaimed, pausing for a moment before speaking again, “I mean… I guess that’s fine, it’s not like I’d be doing anything other than sleeping… So where are we gonna meet?”

“Hm… how about that twenty four hour cafe across the street from the studio?”

“Alright, sounds good to me.”

“Okay, I’ll see you then.”

“Yep, see yah.”

Jisung let out a sigh of relief as he hung up the phone, a huge smile on his face as he combed his fingers through his hair. Jumping up from the couch, he immediately went to the bathroom to shower and get himself ready for his ‘date’ with Chan. He took his time in the shower, thinking about all the possible ways it could go, all the things he should say, all the advances he could make… but he was also nervous because maybe Chan didn’t even feel the same, maybe he only viewed him as a friend.

Although this wasn’t the first time they were going out, for Jisung, this time felt totally different; it was the first time he was going out with Chan, having officially accepted that he has feelings for him. It had been a while since Jisung first became interested, but during that time he was just trying to figure out if he truly liked Chan or if it was something else. He wasn’t sure if it was a strong sense of friendship, or maybe just that he thought Chan was attractive, or maybe he felt lustful towards him… and with all the possibilities in mind he thought that maybe what he was feeling was just a phase. But after a while of thinking and letting his feelings develop, he determined that he really did like Chan and wanted to build a serious relationship with him if possible.

He knew he definitely wasn’t ready to confess to him yet, but he did feel like he should at least inform Chan of his sexuality; he had to take everything in baby steps to ensure the smoothest results possible. At that point, if Chan admitted that he didn’t swing that way, then there would be no point in confessing and Jisung would have to try a different approach or just leave it at that.

Just as Jisung finished his shower, hair still damp with his towel wrapped around his waist, Changbin came home, a puzzled look forming on his face as he caught a glimpse of Jisung.

“You showered early,” Changbin commented as he put his food down on the table, “Going somewhere?”

“N-no…” Jisung replied nervously as he slowly continued making his way to his room, “I just… was feeling a little icky so I decided to shower. Now if you’ll excuse me, I need to go put some clothes on.” Entering his room, he closed the door behind him, quickly throwing on some pajamas before making his way back out to the kitchen to join Changbin.

“What’d you get? Smells good,” Jisung commented as he sat down next to Changbin.

“Just some noodles and chicken from the place down the street. You want some?” Changbin asked as he gestured the food towards Jisung.

“Nah, I’m good… I already ate,” he lied, not wanting to spoil his appetite in case Chan wanted to grab a bite to eat when they met up.

“Oh yeah, what’d you end up eating?”

“Oh uh… just… some leftovers… not much though because I uh… wasn’t that hungry.” 

Changbin only nodded in response, acknowledging the statement as he continued to eat his food.

“So I was wondering…” Jisung started, “How late are you planning to stay up tonight?”

“To practice? Hm… I don’t know, depends when I’m satisfied with how I sound. Why?”

“Just wondering because I wanna be able to sleep tonight…”

“I’m not gonna be thaaat loud.”

“And I quote, ‘... the walls aren’t that thick you know…’”

“Alright, fine, I’ll try not to stay up too late.”

“Good. Besides, you’re already an amazing wrapper, hyung, don’t stress out about it,” Jisung assured, placing a hand on Changbin’s shoulder, “It’s better to get lots of rest so that you’re not tired tomorrow morning for your recording.”

“Yeah I guess you’re right, thanks Sungie.”

“Of course! Only the best for my best friend.”

* * *

Time dragged as Jisung waited and waited for the clock to hit 11; he was getting way too anxious for his secret little rendezvous with Chan. He had his nicest outfit picked out along with his best cologne, and he had also pre-packed mints and a condom in his pants pocket in case y’know… things happened, and of course, he made sure to bring extra money so that he could pay the bill if they decided to go out to eat or have drinks or something. After what felt like forever, finally, around 10:30, Changbin finished up his practicing.

“Goodnight, Jisung,” Changbin said as he popped his head into Jisung’s room, “You can sleep in peace now.” 

“Thanks, I will. Goodnight, Changbin-hyung,” Jisung lied through his teeth as Changbin closed the bedroom door and continued on his way to his own. 

The moment Jisung heard Changbin’s bedroom door close, he immediately popped up out of bed and changed into his nice clothes, quickly fixing his hair and giving himself a few spritz of cologne. Taking one last glance in the mirror, he deemed himself presentable and so at last, he was able to start making his way out. First, he snuck out of his bedroom, being sure to make as little sound as possible as he opened and closed his door, and then he quickly but quietly made his way to the front door. Once he was outside, he locked the door behind him and started walking down the sidewalk toward the cafe that he and Chan agreed to meet at. As excited as he was to see Chan, he forced himself to walk slowly so that he wouldn’t be all sweaty and gross in front of him, especially since he’d already showered.

 Jisung arrived about fifteen minutes early, so he decided to find a table to sit at while he waited for Chan to arrive. Thankfully, since it was late, there were lots of open tables so it was easy for him to find a spot. Only about five minutes had passed when he heard the cafe door open, and as he looked up, sure enough, it was Chan. He gulped as he looked away, pretending not to see that Chan had just walked in and instead, waiting for him to come to the table.

“Wow, you’re early,” Chan spoke as he sat down across from Jisung.

“Oh, haha yeah,” Jisung replied nervously, glancing down at the time on his phone which read 11:20 pm, “You’re early too.”

“Yeah,” Chan shrugged, his little dimple showing as he grinned at Jisung, “Better to be early than late. I wanted to be here before you but you beat me.”

Jisung only nodded in response, the butterflies that were filling his stomach making it hard for him to make conversation.

“Did you… wanna grab some drinks?” Chan asked as he motioned toward the counter.

“Oh, yeah, right. Sorry,” Jisung replied, quickly standing up and following Chan to the counter to order.

“Hi, what can I get for you guys tonight?” the barista smiled.

“Hi, I’ll just take a small hot cocoa, and uh… what do you want Jisung?”

“Uh… I’ll have the same as him…”

“Okay, so two small hot cocoas… can I get a name for the order?”

“Chan.”

Upon hearing the price of the transaction from the barista, Jisung scrambled for his wallet in his back pocket and quickly rummaged through his bills to give the appropriate cash, but before he could, Chan snatched Jisung’s wallet out of his hands and instead, paid for the drinks with his own card.

“Alrighty, your drinks will be out in a bit.”

“Thank you,” Chan replied, quickly putting his card away as he walked back to the table, Jisung just following close behind, but too shy to speak up and ask for his wallet back.

“So…” Chan started as he sat down across from Jisung, a cheeky grin spread across his face, “What’s this?” Between his index and middle finger, he held up a square, metallic package that Jisung immediately recognized to be the condom he had hidden in his wallet for emergency purposes. “Are you getting some action and you didn’t tell me? Is that what you wanted to talk to me about tonight?”

“Uh…” Jisung mumbled, unable to make eye contact with Chan as his cheeks flushed a faint pink color, “N-no I’m not I just… I figured it’s good to have one just in case… y’know? Better safe than sorry… right?”

“You don’t have to be shy about it, dude. You can tell me if you aren’t a virgin anymore.”

“Hyung… I’m really not having sex.”

“Order for Chan!” the barista called, interrupting the conversation. “I can get it,” Jisung blurted, quickly shooting up before Chan even  had the chance and quickly making his way back to the counter to grab the drinks.

Shit… Why’d he have to find the condom so fast, we literally just met up… Jisung thought to himself, shaking his head  as he grabbed the drinks and started making his way back. This ‘date’ was definitely not going as smoothly as he thought it would in his head. Sitting back down at the table with the drinks, there was an awkward silence for a bit, Jisung unable to make eye contact with Chan, who was curiously observing Jisung’s obviously nervous body language.

“So,” Chan started as he took a sip of his drink, “If not that… what is it you needed to tell me?”

“U-uh well…” Jisung stuttered, gulping hard before continuing, “It’s a little… personal so like… I don’t really wanna talk about it in public.”

“Oh, okay… how about we go for a drive then?” 

“You drove?”

“Yeah, I kinda stole the company van,” he smirked as he took another sip of his cocoa.

“You what?!” Jisung exclaimed, wide eyed, “You won’t get in trouble??”

“As long as I don’t crash it I won’t,” he chuckled, “C’mon, let’s go.”

Nervously, Jisung followed Chan out to the van, his hands cold and heart pounding as he got in and put on his seatbelt. As Chan drove, Jisung stayed quiet, staring out the window as he thought about how he was going to tell Chan. 

I can’t just… say it… that’s weird. I need to start a conversation first… maybe just… ask how he’s been? or something?? Ask him about his music? but then how will I change the topic after? Ugh… I don’t know… this is pathetic…

Chan couldn’t help but notice that something was off about Jisung. He’d never seen him so tense and on edge before and he found it rather concerning. He could only hope that whatever it was that Jisung had to say, he would be able to handle it well and give Jisung the comfort he was looking for.

Finally, after about a twenty minute drive, Chan backed the van into a rather barren place that Jisung had never been to before… to him, it looked like they were literally in the middle of nowhere.

“Where a--” Jisung started, but before he could finish, Chan had already gotten out of the car and shut the door, but it didn’t take Jisung long to jump out of his seat and chase after him. “Chan, where a-- whoa…”  This time, before he could finish speaking, he got distracted by the breathtaking sight before him, his eyes gleaming with amazement as his mouth fell agape; Chan had driven them up to a lookout of the city.

“Beautiful, isn’t it?” Chan smiled seeing Jisung’s appalled reaction. “I always come here when I’m stressed out and need to clear my head… come,” Chan motioned, patting a seat next to him for Jisung to sit. Jisung had been so absorbed in the view that he was completely oblivious of Chan opening the liftgate and laying out a blanket for them to sit on. Jisung’s cheeks burned in reaction to Chan’s kind gesture, butterflies soon filling his stomach yet again despite his efforts to keep himself calm. He was sure that Chan didn’t have any special intentions for doing what he did, but Jisung couldn't help but feel that it was really romantic, and maybe even a little flirty… and unfortunately, it was making him even more nervous than he already was.

“Sung,” Chan called, concern in his voice as he reached for Jisung’s hand. Jisung gasped in response, unintentionally pulling his hand away in an act of panic as he struggled to contain his emotions.

“Are you okay, Jisung?! I’m so sorry, I didn’t mean to upset you!” Chan bolted up from his seat, facing Jisung directly, “Is it something I did?”

“N-no, no! It’s not you, I just… you startled me… sorry…”

“No, don’t apologize… I shouldn’t have been so bold knowing something was bothering you, I’m sorry…”

Jisung could still feel his heart pounding out of his chest, hands cold and stomach tied in knots as he stood there, trying his best to calm himself down. It was now or never; it was starting to get late and he didn't drag Chan out at 11:30 at night just to say nothing. Taking a deep breath, he finally forced himself to say what he’d been meaning to say all night.

“Chan… you're a really great guy… and even though it doesn't seem like it right now, I feel extremely comfortable around you and I feel like I can trust you with any secret and well… I have a pretty big one… but just to be clear, I’m still a virgin, I wasn’t lying about that earlier.”

“I’m sorry, that was my bad… I was just making assumptions. I’m glad you trust me with any secret though, Jisung. Right now, I want you to know we’re in a completely judge free zone and I promise you, whatever happens here or is said here, stays here. Okay? You can tell me whatever you need to and I will be sure to keep that promise.”

Jisung found comfort in Chan’s words, the love and support he showed easing some of his nerves as he prepared himself to finally reveal his secret, “Okay… you’re the only person that I’ve told this to so far… even though I’ve been holding onto it for a while… but that’s why I was so damn nervous.” Closing his eyes, he clenched his fists anxiously as he took one last deep breath before finally parting his lips to speak, “Chan… I’m gay.”

|| Ch 1 || Ch 2 || Ch 3 || Ch 4 || Ch 5 || Ch 6 ||

[romeoryu]

me waiting until the last minute to write my intro post, forcing myself to rush through it all as quickly as possible despite having had days and days to write something detailed and thoughtful? it is more likely than you think. but anyways helo it me!!!! ur local admin aka kayla aka romeo’s mother and somehow also his worst enemy. heh. like i said, i’m gonna rush through this & try to make it cohesive as possible but forgive me if nothing makes sense adshjfdfh. like this to plot, or just hmu on my discord which is currently JAELENTINE’S DAY#8258 ( hbd yoonoh ilu )

— ( 𝐤𝐢𝐦 𝐭𝐚𝐞𝐡𝐲𝐮𝐧𝐠 & 𝐜𝐢𝐬 𝐦𝐚𝐥𝐞. ) oh my god look, it’s romeo ryu! he is a 23 year old actor from newark, new jersey. they were first associated with the met cartel 2 years ago, and the tabloids are always saying he is so audacious & evasive, but their stans on twitter say that he is actually really rougish & debonair. 

— 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐬𝐞𝐝𝐮𝐜𝐭𝐢𝐯𝐞 𝐟𝐫𝐚𝐠𝐫𝐚𝐧𝐜𝐞 𝐨𝐟 𝐥𝐢𝐧𝐠𝐞𝐫𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐰𝐡𝐢𝐬𝐤𝐞𝐲 𝐚𝐭 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐛𝐚𝐜𝐤 𝐨𝐟 𝐨𝐧𝐞'𝐬 𝐭𝐡𝐫𝐨𝐚𝐭, 𝐰𝐢𝐥𝐭𝐞𝐝 𝐫𝐨𝐬𝐞𝐬 𝐝𝐢𝐬𝐜𝐚𝐫𝐝𝐞𝐝 𝐢𝐧 𝐚 𝐬𝐢𝐝𝐞𝐰𝐚𝐥𝐤 𝐩𝐮𝐝𝐝𝐥𝐞, 𝐬𝐢𝐥𝐯𝐞𝐫 𝐣𝐞𝐰𝐞𝐥𝐫𝐲 𝐠𝐥𝐢𝐧𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐛𝐞𝐧𝐞𝐚𝐭𝐡 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐞𝐱𝐩𝐞𝐧𝐬𝐢𝐯𝐞 𝐜𝐨𝐥𝐥𝐚𝐫 𝐨𝐟 𝐚 𝐠𝐮𝐜𝐜𝐢 𝐛𝐮𝐭𝐭𝐨𝐧 𝐝𝐨𝐰𝐧, 𝐞𝐦𝐨𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐬 𝐥𝐞𝐟𝐭 𝐚𝐛𝐚𝐧𝐝𝐨𝐧𝐞𝐝 𝐨𝐧 𝐟𝐢𝐥𝐦 𝐬𝐞𝐭𝐬, 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐛𝐥𝐢𝐧𝐤𝐢𝐧𝐠, 𝐯𝐢𝐨𝐥𝐞𝐧𝐭 𝐫𝐞𝐝 𝐨𝐟 𝐚 𝐜𝐚𝐦𝐞𝐫𝐚 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐢𝐭𝐜𝐡𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐬𝐨𝐮𝐧𝐝 𝐨𝐟 𝐚 𝐳𝐨𝐨𝐦𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐥𝐞𝐧𝐬. 𝐛𝐥𝐚𝐜𝐤 𝐠𝐫𝐚𝐧𝐢𝐭𝐞 𝐭𝐚𝐛𝐥𝐞𝐭𝐨𝐩𝐬 𝐝𝐮𝐬𝐭𝐞𝐝 𝐢𝐧 𝐰𝐡𝐢𝐭𝐞, 𝐝𝐢𝐥𝐚𝐭𝐞𝐝 𝐩𝐮𝐩𝐢𝐥𝐬 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐞𝐚𝐬𝐲 𝐩𝐮𝐥𝐥 𝐨𝐟 𝐚𝐧 𝐢𝐧𝐞𝐛𝐫𝐢𝐚𝐭𝐞𝐝 𝐠𝐫𝐢𝐧.

— 𝒉𝒊𝒔 𝒑𝒊𝒏𝒕��𝒓𝒆𝒔𝒕 𝒃𝒐𝒂𝒓𝒅.

tw: drug abuse, death/overdose

— part i.

from the very beginning of his life, romeo ryu has struggled with trying to figure out where his place in the world is. he doesn’t remember much of his earliest years, time spent in a home with parents he can only remember in far away, hazy dreams. 

his parents were young, and in lust. he was never planned, or, in the end, wanted & ended up in the foster care system by the time he was two. for most of his life he bounced around from foster home to foster home, some good and some terrible, but none of them great. he held on to and undying hope that one day he’d stumble upon the family that wanted him, the parents that loved him and the childhood he dreamed of. but year in and year out it never came, and that hope began to burn out around his 13th birthday. 

stuck in the system, he had to grow a thick skin. there was no one at his back or there to defend him, and most of his foster families only cared about the monthly check they received in return for letting him sleep under their roofs. and in the end, that’s all it really was. a place to sleep and a couple free meals. aside from that he was on his own. 

college was never an option – there was no way in hell he could afford it, and by the time he was 16, he was sick of sleeping under strangers’ roofs. he dropped out of high school in order to pick up a handful of odd jobs and by the time he aged out of the system he’d saved up enough money to leave jersey and shove the little bit of shit he owned into a one bedroom apartment in the bronx with two other guys he’d found on craigslist. it was never ideal, but it was the only place he’d ever felt he could call his own. 

from bussing in shabby live music bars to over night shifts at the bodega and early morning opening hours at the public library, romeo kept himself busy. but no matter how many hours he worked or how tired he got, it didn’t keep him from falling into the wrong crowd. it started out as just a bit of fun, just a way to get out of his own head in the few hours of free time he managed to carve out in a week, the alcohol and the drugs were just a way to pass the time, a way to make his shitty, boring life a little less shitty. 

but then it got worse. then instead of saving money he was spending it all on whatever he could afford. instead of looking to move out he was struggling to keep up with rent. his days between 19 and 20 passed in a blur, until he was hit with a reality check one night in a friend’s basement unit, so high he still doesn’t really remember what happened. but he remembers the shaking body on the floor and the cold fear in his belly and the hand on his arm pulling him away and telling him they have to go. they don’t tell anyone, and they don’t talk about. still, romeo doesn’t know who found the body or how long it took for it all to be over. 

it’s not enough of a reality check to pull him out of the dark though, and his head really only surfaces enough to get his act together long enough to get the fuck out of his shoebox apartment and away from his annoying ass roommates. he packs up, fits all his things in a backpack and duffle bag and leaves the rest, and gets on a plane across the country. 

— part ii.

he wasn’t expecting much from LA, just a change of pace and better weather mostly, but he manages to strike gold when a stranger approaches him while he’s bartending and asks him if he’s a model. romeo tells him no and then the guys asks him if he’s an actor. and when romeo says no to that he asks what the hell he’s doing in LA, and if he wants to give any of it a try. romeo isn’t exactly keen, but he asks the guy how much he’s paying, and that’s the only convincing he needs. 

acting comes easy. it’s natural to him, finally letting out all those emotions he’s been choking on for years. and his face doesn’t hurt either. he shoots his first indie film when he’s 21, and walks his first red carpet ten months later. to say he catapulted into fame would be an understatement. he blinked and he had management agencies practically kicking his door down, had gained hundreds of thousands of followers in mere weeks, and was signed onto his first major hollywood film before he’d even bought a couch for his apartment. 

it was like whiplash, the way he tossed into the grasp of hollywood. but fuck, was it fun. and confusing, suddenly having fans and people that loved him and supported him. he had the face and the talent, but he didn’t have a celebrity personality. he stayed away from interviews and side projects and award shows (as much as he could at least), but he found it hard to stay away from the after parties and the one night stands and drugs. god, the drugs were good. 

fast forward to 22 and he’s made his first handful of friends, and has officially been associated with the met cartel. which brings us to today, or a few months ago. when he was fired off the set of his most recent film and his largest project to date for drug related issues. it’s his first huge scandal, and his second wake up call. this time though, he’s got a management team to clean it up & they shove him into rehab in an attempt to clean up both his image and his act. 

as of today, he is 0 days clean, but that’s no ones business but his own. he was released from his rehab program three weeks ago, and has since been trying to get find his footing again to no avail. he doesn’t really know what else there is for him to do outside of partying and sleeping with anything that has a pulse, especially now that he isn’t working 70 hours a week. but he’s figuring it out. kind of. not really. but again, that’s no one’s business but his own. 

— part iii.

personality wise, he’s a bit of an asshole. but it’s all just surface, typical defensive behavior. he doesn’t know how to be close to people or how have real feelings in a place that isn’t a movie set. which is why the drugs are his choice of hobby. he doesn’t know he’s supposed to be when he’s sober or how he’s supposed to move throughout the world. 

but beneath all that, if you manage to get past the exterior, romeo is a sensitive being. real Sad Boy hours. he takes a lot of things to heart (though he’ll never admit it) and he’s terrified of being alone or abandoned, which gets complicated. he likes to spend most of his time with people to avoid being lonely, but he doesn’t like to get very close to them in order to avoid being abandoned. so, that causes issues. 

outside of acting he’s into music and art. he spent a lot of time working in live music bars and went through a big emo phase when was a teen so he’s really into rock / screamo / punk / etc. and working in a library he read a lot and has an interest in history, particularly art history, and poetry. very artsy, very into the idea of artistic expression as a therapeutic practice mostly bc that’s what acting is for him. it’s the only way he can allow himself to feel entirely and unapologetically, which is why he’s so damn good at it. 

and uhhh this is sooo long so i’ll stop here but alsjkdfh yeah give me all the plots okay like co-stars, EXES, hook ups, bad influences!!, good influences, flirtationships, enemies, all of it. i’ll probably make an in depth list soon buuut this is hm for now!!! if you read this whole thing you are the mvp mwah.

[crescent-yoon]

The Amazing Spiderman: Chapter 3. Jungkook

Jungkook began to head to his hyung's house when he remembered that he gave Jungkook money to buy a few bottles of Soju.    This was a usual thing for Yoongi to ask of Jungkook. The young boy looked at his surroundings. He saw a restaurant and decided to spend money on takeout there for his hyung.     This was also a common thing for the two. Jungkook would disobey his hyung in this matter to keep his hyung safe and make sure his body wouldn't be dependent on alcohol.  Once Jungkook walked a couple of blocks, he found himself already at the doorstep of Min Yoongi.      "Hyung. Are you awake?" Jungkook asked the empty-looking house after unlocking the door with his key. "I brought you some kimchi and jajangmyeon."   Jungkook looked around his childhood home to see bottles of Soju leaving a trail to the living room couch. He managed to walk to the living room past the bottles of alcohol to see a sober Yoongi with disheveled hair.    "Hyung. I brought you food." Jungkook stated again, standing in front of his hyung.      "Jungkook~ah. What have I said about disobeying me, hm?" Yoongi murmured, treating Jungkook as if he were back in middle school.  "That I should always obey and respect my hyungs and to never spend your money on food unless it comes with a bottle of Soju because money is a harmful power." Jungkook sighed disappointedly.   "Exactly. And what comes with such a great power, Jungkook?" Yoongi scolded his younger, resting his head on his propped up elbow.      "Responsibility, hyung."  "Exactly." Yoongi pointed at him. "So, what food did you get, Jungkook~ah?"     "I brought you kimchi and jajangmyeon, hyung." Jungkook handed him the food. "Hyung, you need to sober up, eat more. You're only 25 and you are on your way to becoming an alcoholic."     "Jungkook~ah, why do you worry about my drinking habits so much?" Yoongi murmured, stuffing his mouth with food.    "The same reason why you worry about me being at Jeon Industries. You are the only thing I have, hyung." Jungkook admitted to his older. "Besides, a habit like this could kill you! You're body is gonna start to rely on it if you don't slow down. I'm 20 now, hyung! I'd love to repay you for raising me but I can't take care of you forever, ahjussi."    "I'm not that old, you silly rabbit." Yoongi smiled at his younger. "I will try to sober up for you."       "Thank you, hyung." "Yeah, yeah. Come eat, Jungkook~ah."     Yoongi and Jungkook had a very close relationship. Yoongi did raise him since he was 13 after all. Yoongi had seen everything. Yoongi has been through everything with his younger. Jungkook was practically like a son to him and felt the need to always protect him.   Yoongi was there when Jungkook hit puberty. When he had his first date, first girlfriend, first kiss, first heartbreak. Yoongi was there in all his phases from his emo phase to the man he's grown up to be today. Yoongi didn't say it much but he made sure to show how proud he was of the boy. He was proud that Jungkook had grown into a smart, decent, kind young man.     "Jungkook~ah." Yoongi softly spoke, breaking the comfortable silence they both had learned to be comfortable with. "You're not going to school tomorrow. We have somewhere to be." "Where are we going, hyung?" A confused Jungkook asked.     "We are going to spend time together, just me and you." Yoongi admitted. "You are like a son to me and I know I don't express this much but nothing can describe how proud I am of you. Even when you disobey my orders."     "Thank you, hyung."  "Thank you, Jungkook~ah for being the best son I could ever have."    Jungkook felt content at best with Yoongi's endearing words. Sure, Jungkook's own parents had died when he was at a young age but even when they were alive, he nor his older brother had ever heard those words come from their parents' mouths. Jungkook made sure not to take it for granted either, keeping his hyung's words close to heart. Jungkook then realized that it had been a long day. It was almost close to 1 am.    "Come on, hyung." Jungkook stood up. "It's really late and you should get some sleep."   "I need to clean up the place, Jungkook~ah." Yoongi sighed, throwing his trash away and maneuvering over beer bottles.   "I'll take care of it, hyung. Go get some rest."   Yoongi nodded at the younger and headed to his room. Yoongi had to get up early to go get his paycheck from work, Jungkook knew this which is why he told him to rest.  Jungkook started picking up at the front entrance of Yoongi's apartment. There were so many liquor bottles littered around the place that he could've sworn that Yoongi was manufacturing his own Soju company. After about 20 minutes, Jungkook had managed to clean up all the bottles. He had put them in a garbage bag outside the door and began to sweep and mop. That took another 30 minutes.   Jungkook when out of the apartment to go run the trash out to the dumpster of the complex. He looked up into the night sky and saw the stars. He honestly couldn't stop admiring how beautiful they were. It made him think of you.     Jungkook finally snapped out of his dazed state and decided to return back to Yoongi's apartment. It was late at night and he truly missed his childhood home. He lived on his own and attended college after all. He didn't get to spend very much time with hyung and he tried to make it his duty to take care of him.     The tired college student finally arrived inside his old room. He was so exhausted from the day he had that he had only changed into pajamas, deciding to wash up in the morning.    He snuggled himself deeper into the covers, slowly drifting into slumber. He heard his door creak open however and quiet footsteps coming closer afterwards. Jungkook's eyes remained shut though as he felt the edge of the bed dip lightly, his head facing that same edge.    The person had made sure that he was tucked in tight in his bed and his windows were closed on such a chilly night. The person was silent and gentle at the same time. The silent figure then gently stroked the younger's hair for a few minutes before deciding to sleep himself.     "Goodnight, Jungkook~ah." Jungkook heard Yoongi whisper quietly and soothingly before lightly kissing his forehead, making sure not to wake the younger as he closed his door.

[tsukiprotranslations]

[Translation] VAZZROCK bi-color Series Vol. 10 Drama Track 1 - Part 2

Part 2!! Ayumu and Gaku find themselves in the middle of a crisis www But, you could totally get a strong sense of what their characters are really like in this drama track~ 

Thank you to @ryuukia for the files~! Please don’t ask her as per her request, thank you!

※ Please don’t re-post these translations without permission. Instead of reposting, please just like/reblog instead ^^

PART 1 | PART 2 | PART 3 | SOLO SONG | DUET SONG

Under the cut, enjoy~!

[10:15]

  AYUMU: (gasps) Please tell me I’m hallucinating…

GAKU: I want to but, I’m seeing the same thing as you are.

AYUMU: You’re joking, right…?

AYUMU: The flight’s been cancelled?

GAKU: Looks like it’s been decided for us, huh?

GAKU: Everyone who saw the signboard are heading to the reception desk right now.

AYUMU: …

GAKU: What should we do? Even I would think that we won’t be able to do something if we can’t reach the location itself.

AYUMU: Has the manager contacted you yet?

GAKU: No, not yet. What about you?

AYUMU: There’s none, either. I’m sure he’s still busy with the others’ events that he hasn’t noticed the flight’s schedule change yet.

AYUMU: For now, I’ll try to contact him.

GAKU: Want to go back to the dorms for now?

AYUMU: No! I’ll go to the location even if I have to crawl there.

AYUMU: Gaku, I thought you agreed with me.

GAKU: I’d do it if we could. The event is tomorrow afternoon, right?

AYUMU: If the flight’s cancelled then… the train!

AYUMU: But, we won’t make it…

GAKU: No. No, no. It’s still too early to give up, Ayumu.

GAKU: There’s really nothing that’s impossible in this world. I’m sure there’s another way. It’s just not something seen so easily.

AYUMU: … You’re right. Alright! I’ll tell the manager that we’ll think of a way to somehow get to the location.

AYUMU: Gaku, can you look for an alternative on how to get there in the meantime?

GAKU: Roger.

[11:52]

  GAKU: The bullet train lines are all suspended, huh…

(phone ringing)

AYUMU: What are you doing, Manager?

(Manager-san picks up)

AYUMU: Ah, thank god he picked up…!

AYUMU: Is it alright to talk to you right now?

AYUMU: I see.

AYUMU: Actually, the flight to get to the event site’s been cancelled.

AYUMU: No! You don’t have to tell them to cancel the event. Gaku and I will still go.

AYUMU: Gaku’s searching for alternatives right now…

GAKU: Ayumu, it seems like if we take the late night express bus, we might make it. I’ll try to see if I can get us tickets.

GAKU: (on the phone) Ah, hello?

AYUMU: Did you hear that, Manager? I’m sure that there will already be fans waiting by the venue.

AYUMU: Yeah. Yes… I know that there might be people who won’t come…!

AYUMU: But, I don’t want to disappoint them! Even if the preparations might have problems, we at least want to be there,

AYUMU: I want to wait together with the people who have been looking forward to it!

AYUMU: That’s… Isn’t that the best we could do right now?

AYUMU: Ah…! Sorry for causing you trouble.

AYUMU: …! Thank you! Yeah… Yes, I know.

AYUMU: We won’t force it if it becomes too dangerous. I’ll tell Gaku that, too.

AYUMU: Yeah, please contact the event hall.

AYUMU: Alright, we’ll contact you when we arrive safely.

AYUMU: Yeah. Take care, too.

GAKU: Ayumu, you really treasure the fans, huh?

AYUMU: Wha--?! What’s with that all of a sudden?

GAKU: Nah, I just happened to hear your conversation.

GAKU: Really. I’m so glad that you’re my first event partner.

AYUMU: I should be the one saying that.

AYUMU: I’m so glad that you’re the one to share my troubles.

AYUMU: Ah, what about you? Did you manage to get us tickets?

GAKU: It went okay. I managed to get two tickets to the express bus that heads directly to the event site.

GAKU: We’ll be arriving by 10 A.M tomorrow so we don’t have much time to take it easy.

AYUMU: It’s wonderful enough that we’ll make it before it begins.

AYUMU: From where will it depart?

GAKU: There’s one that leaves from the airport, thankfully.

GAKU: Departure will be 20 minutes from now.

AYUMU: Then we better hurry.

GAKU: Even though it’s still 20 minutes away?

AYUMU: We shouldn’t underestimate the airport’s wideness.

GAKU: You have a point. (chuckles)

(they start walking)

[14:51]

  AYUMU: I’m so glad we made it. (sighs)

GAKU: Are you okay?

AYUMU: No problem.

(bus starts moving)

  GAKU: It was the better choice to hurry like you thought.

GAKU: People were moving here and there since flights got cancelled so it took longer to navigate.

GAKU: We almost didn’t make it, huh~

AYUMU: Yeah. Ah… Would you prefer to sit by the window?

GAKU: Hm? Ah, I’m fine with either so choose what you want.

AYUMU: Thank you.

(Ayumu sits down and opens the curtain)

AYUMU: It looks like the rain hasn’t reached here yet.

GAKU: Maybe it’ll start when we get there?

AYUMU: Have you ever ridden an express bus, Gaku?

GAKU: Yeah, back when I was a student.

GAKU: It’s a cheaper way of getting to the local mountains for a student.

AYUMU: I see.

GAKU: What about you?

AYUMU: I think I remember having ridden it once long ago.

AYUMU: I’ve ridden on a lot of location buses (for filming) before but…

AYUMU: I think at times like these, it’d be better if I knew how to drive.

GAKU: You don’t have a license?

AYUMU: No, I have one. Though, I wish I could actually use it.

AYUMU: I got it when I was in university.

AYUMU: But, our agency generally doesn’t allow their talents to drive on their own, right?

GAKU: Ah, that’s right. I don’t have much chances to drive so I forgot.

AYUMU: Even if we got permission, I don’t think I have confidence in getting us there faster compared to a pro driver.

AYUMU: I think I can count how many times I’ve actually gone on the highway.

GAKU: In Tokyo, it’s actually kinda inconvenient to go home by car, huh?

AYUMU: Exactly.

AYUMU: Plus, whenever I see a car trying to park in a super narrow space, I remember my training and it doesn’t sit well with me…

GAKU: Oh, for parallel parking?

AYUMU: Yeah. I was so bad at that that I only have bad memories of it.

GAKU: Heh~ How unexpected~

AYUMU: It is?

GAKU: You have the image of someone who’d be able to do a complicated driving manoeuvre so easily.

AYUMU: It’s not like I can’t do it. It’s just… when it’s a little crooked, I can’t help but re-do it.

GAKU: Hm? Then, by memories, you mean…?

AYUMU: I couldn’t be satisfied with my own parallel parking so I asked to take another test but…

AYUMU: They passed me the first time and I couldn’t take the test again.

GAKU: (chuckles) You passed and yet you’re still unsatisfied.

AYUMU: I just knew I could’ve done better.

GAKU: (laughs) It’s great that you have such a desire to improve.

AYUMU: What about you? Do you have a license?

GAKU: Yeah, I got a training license when I turned 18.

AYUMU: Training license…? Ah, the one that you can get within a month?

GAKU: If I remember… I think I got it in about two weeks.

AYUMU: That’s a lot shorter than I thought.

GAKU: Thanks to that, I could get it during my vacation.

GAKU: I wanted to breeze through it and just get it, I guess..

AYUMU: Are you unexpectedly the kind who takes short, intensive courses…?

GAKU: Is it unusual?

AYUMU: Somehow… You give off the image who’d like to do things slowly.

AYUMU: I guess, you give off the kind of vibes of someone who’s very patient.

GAKU: Hmm… I wonder… I don’t think that I’m very patient myself but…

GAKU: I see. So that’s what I seem like to other people, huh?

AYUMU: What did it feel like attending the training course?

GAKU: I don’t think it’s that much differ—No, it is.

GAKU: The way we trained for skills on the road was weird.

AYUMU: How is it weird? You’re just supposed to drive on the road with the instructor, right?

GAKU: The road was a huge field. No matter where we went, it was all just fields.

GAKU: It’s the kind of road that makes you feel thankful when you see a traffic light.

GAKU: I was like, “Ah~ It’s a stoplight!”

AYUMU: How far did you go just to get a license…?

GAKU: Even the instructor apologized and said that, while it’s good there weren’t any people to crash into, I had to be careful not to fall asleep.

AYUMU: Ah… You mean, that kind of thing where they say if you see the same scenery for a long time, you feel sleepy?

GAKU: No. It’s the instructor’s lecture about not feeling sleepy that made me feel super sleepy.

GAKU: Like, with how his voice sounded and its tempo? Man, that should be a talent on its own.

AYUMU: No… That’s not good, right?

GAKU: Now that I remember it, his voice might’ve been the real test.

AYUMU: What kind of test is that? Still, you passed, right?

GAKU: Only barely though, I think.

AYUMU: Are you… bad at driving?

GAKU: I think I’m at the normal level. But, during the last phase of the test, a monkey—

AYUMU: Monkey…?!

GAKU: I bet they came down from the mountains. I avoided the monkey’s family on the road and almost didn’t reach our destination.

AYUMU: Th-that’s… H-how did you solve that problem…?

GAKU: I got permission from the instructor to go take a detour. He guided me through the mountain roads.

GAKU: I’m so glad it wasn’t a talking monkey or something.

AYUMU: As expected. It wouldn’t compare to Ruka who you handle every day, huh?

GAKU: Hey, even Ruu would get mad if you compared him to a mon— maybe not.

GAKU: He’d think it’s interesting. In actuality, I think Ruu’s easier to handle.

AYUMU: (chuckles) Well, in the end, I’m pretty sure those licenses weren’t for naught.

GAKU: No doubt about that.

==TO BE CONTINUED==

※ Please don’t re-post the kanji/romaji and English translations without permission. Instead of reposting, please just like/reblog instead ^^

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[tehuti88-art]

8/20/22: r/SketchDaily theme, "Chess." I did two different arts today!

Firstly, before I found out the new theme: Today's character from my anthro WWII storyline (yes, I did another) is Mirela...no last name ever given. She's Romani and carries quite a grudge toward the bad guys who tried capturing her (and did capture her father). There'll be more about her later in my art Tumblr and Toyhou.se.

Regarding her design...I only just realized I forgot to give her earrings! 😱 Well...uh. Crud. Maybe another time.

TUMBLR EDIT: I'm afraid I don't know a terrible lot about Mirela yet, though that's never stopped me from rambling, right??

Mirela's one of the intermediary-phase characters from the Trench Rats series. She's not old and not new. She may have been developed specifically for the version of the story I started posting online in the early 2000s (I'm not sure of the exact date but I just looked and the existing text was posted to Writing.com between 2001-2, and there's mention of it being posted on Fanfiction.net (now FictionPress) before that. Hm, a bit older than I thought, but fits with the 2002 character list, I guess.) Mirela is actually the one who starts out the story (well, that version of it) when her father is captured and she's rescued by the Trench Rats while fleeing the Nazis. Why are Nazis chasing them? Mirela and her father--since named Nikolas--are Romani, Gypsies. A people the Nazis hate about as much as they hate Jews. I imagined this chase scene, BTW, set to Pat Benatar's "Promises In The Dark." No, the lyrics have nothing to do with it, it's just an awesome tune I grew up listening to on 8-track. (Yes, 8-track. Google it.) Here, let me hook you up. Take a listen and imagine two anthropomorphic rats riding a pair of dogs trying to race away from evil Nazis, then come back here. I'll wait.

Wasn't that awesome? Okay. That there is Mirela's song, I guess. Though when I finally look up the words...it honestly seems better suited to someone like Klemper. Hm. Anyway. Turns out, in the original text, Mirela is actually PISSED to be rescued--she'd wanted her shot at the Nazis. Plus, I don't think it's in the text but it's implied she's anguished about the Rats not succeeding in rescuing her father as well. She was intended to spend a good deal of the story being in Trench Rat custody and feeling extremely bitter about the fate of her father, trading lots of barbs with Cpl. Gold Rat, who's portrayed as a...hm, not really a chauvinist, definitely not a misogynist, but in today's world most of his commentary would fall under sexual harassment. He engages in LOTS of flirting and innuendo, even--especially--toward women he's not even interested in getting with; he means no ill by it, it's just his thing. LC Lyndsey Skye, the only female Trench Rat in the story (recall Cpl. Anna Julian is long dead), is a frequent target of his attentions, I mean, there aren't exactly any other women to hit on. She puts up with it and even flings back some saucy comments of her own; both of them know where the other stands and so no offense is taken. Other women react differently. Some accept it, some get angry. Mirela, she gets angry when Gold flirts with her, especially considering that the Nazis who'd been chasing her made comments that made it clear they had some unpleasant intentions for her. Let me share that exchange!--this version of the story is unfinished but fully extant, after all!

Seeing her standing up defiantly, the first one laughed even louder. "Look," he yelled to his companions in German. "She doesn't want to be friends, she wants to play target practice. Doesn't she make a lovely target?"

"Come on," a second one retorted. "I thought we were going to have some fun."

"And this isn't fun? You need to get out more. I'm saving you the trouble of bothering with the trashy little thing. This'll be a lot more fun, I promise. Then we can all go out on the town, mission accomplished, what do you say?"

The second one muttered to himself but offered no argument. The others hooted and catcalled when the first smiled again and aimed the gun between her eyes.

She stood up as straight as she could and shook her fists at the air in a defiant gesture. "You want to shoot? Go ahead, big man, show me that your gun's really got some bullets in it after all!"

A burst of laughter from the others. A surprised, then furious look crossed the soldier's face. "Mouthy little whore," he hissed, cocking the gun, finger pulling back the trigger.

(I recently read that depicting guns being cocked in fiction is dumb and should be avoided--I guess it's more for looks and isn't necessary, though I thought it was?--I don't get it--so aside from all the Russian roulette in the story--there's just a weird amount of Russian roulette--I intend to TRY to avoid this from now on. I know zilch about guns. I'll just say that now. My mother once showed me a hidden compartment in the bathroom closet ceiling and I shrieked like a little girl when a handgun fell out. Turns out it was a BB gun she'd taken from my brother long ago and had forgotten about but it looked dangerous enough to me, how could I know? There's this entry's nice little anecdote, hope you enjoyed.)

Well, Gold's flirting doesn't go over well with Mirela, and she mouths off to him quite a bit. He's not a complete troglodyte and eventually lets her be. This aspect of Gold's personality, by the way, remains in the current version, though it's a little more nuanced. He flirts, he makes vaguely sexual comments, he'll even touch a woman's arm or take her hand or give her a once over. If she shows discomfort, he backs off. If she flirts back, he keeps up the exchange, though usually with no intention for it to go further. And if she actually tries to take it further--as Didrika pretends to do--he gets extremely flustered and REALLY backs off. He's genuinely not interested in banging every woman he sees--he just overcompensates for his own intense insecurity by acting like a douche toward women. (And toward most guys, too.) So of course when called out on it, he doesn't know how to handle it. (As with most other aspects of this story, please don't take this as me excusing such behavior in the real world. In FICTION, I like to try to put myself in the minds of people who engage in behavior that'd be odious and possibly unforgivable IRL, to try to make characters who are three dimensional, and not just caricatures--anybody can write a male chauvinist or an evil Nazi. I want characters who aren't JUST that, characters you want to hate or love yet you find yourself feeling a bit of the opposite, too. Complicated characters. I don't know if I'm succeeding since the story isn't written and I don't think anybody is reading all of this. But that's my intent. Not any sort of sympathy toward Nazis and sexual harassers and murderers and whatnot, just an attempt to write in shades of gray rather than black/white.) Gold's actual reason for being so intensely insecure, BTW, only recently came to light; I was going to share it here, but I intend to get his portrait out of the way soon so I'll save it for that.

ANYWAY. Mirela's upset that her father is still in Nazi custody but can't immediately do anything about it. As the circa-2000 version of the story went, she was intended to be in Trench Rat custody for much of the time but at some point started trying to take on the Nazis in her own ways. The details were never ironed out before I stopped writing. A couple of...ahem...romantic scenes exist, between Mirela and, of all people, Lt. Ratdog. Originally, these two were intended to have at least a brief relationship, though I can't recall if it was meant to last; I don't think it was. Not positive. (My adult scenes, BTW, are the catalyst that rebooted this story in my head last November when I wondered what would happen if I paired off Papillon and Drake...that scene started to run long, plot developed, then for some bizarre reason a swarm of new characters started pouring out of my head demanding my attention. So...thanks for getting it on with each other, guys, I guess? o_o ) In Mirela's and Ratdog's romantic scenes, it's depicted as a sort of love/hate thing, starting out almost like a rape as Mirela tries numerous times to attack Ratdog and he has to restrain her just to protect himself. (Why are they in each other's company in the first place? I have no freaking idea.) They warm to each other, though Mirela struggles with her hatred of the Nazis and by extension how she feels she SHOULD hate Ratdog. (Ratdog isn't a Nazi and was never written as one, far as I can recall. Him being an unofficial member of the Wehrmacht is a retcon and a newer development, but he was never a Nazi. Mirela just sees no distinction--he works for a Nazi (Schavi--know what?--screw it, my autofill is nagging me and I'm just gonna go with it now, I will refer to him henceforth as Schavitz), so to her, that's bad enough.) Ratdog, for his part, only struggles to keep Mirela from killing him. (Even after they do the deed she tries again to finish him off.) He's rather a man-whore, goes both ways, and isn't picky. If someone is interested in him, generally he's good to go. He honestly doesn't get why Mirela keeps trying to kill him. But anyway, that was how the story was originally intended to go.

Ratdog's character arc has developed in a different direction since then, however. As things currently stand, Private Godfrey Klemper is his true love, though it takes him quite a while to realize this, and his initial lack of interest in relationships is ironically what pushes Klemper--who's definitely interested in him--away. I'll try not to get overly into it since this isn't their entry, though I didn't cover it in their entries, so...Ratdog's idea of "love and romance" is just no-strings-attached sex, and he hooks up with numerous parties for brief times only--this is how he ends up a single father. After the death of his young son, he just doubles down on going to bars, getting drunk, and taking someone home or letting them take him home. That, and shooting Trench Rats (whom he incorrectly blames for his son's death), are his sole motivations in life. Klemper, meanwhile, suffered a horribly abusive childhood at the hands of his drunken father, lots of internalized self-hatred over his romantic interests (it's like his father's voice acts as his conscience), shooting his own father when he was just ten years old, growing up VERY fast by joining the Wehrmacht at age thirteen, getting hooked on methamphetamine, and going through a series of incredibly dysfunctional "relationships" that were actually either him being used and dumped by the other party, or just outright raped (he's underaged throughout most of this, as he's only around seventeen or eighteen when Ratdog, probably in his late twenties, meets him). Klemper is desperate for acceptance and love, to the point of always ending up victimized; this, his abusive childhood and self-hatred (his father molested him with a beer bottle to "scare him straight"), and his drug addiction combine to make somebody who's VERY muddled and bitter and broken. He's constantly angry and lashing out, he literally regresses and runs away when he feels overwhelmed, yet the moment someone shows him an ounce of compassion, he latches on and doesn't let go--until they inevitably let him down, of course. Then he hates them with a vengeance. The rest of the time he spends in a twilight daze, high out of his mind and often mixing up childhood events with the current situation; sometimes he just completely zones out. Literally the only time he's really functional is when he's fighting or performing military duties that require him to focus; if not for that he'd just completely fall apart. Oh, right--and the Wehrmacht punished him just when he was starting to show promise by demoting him from sergeant to PFC and denying him the right to progress further, when news of his fling with a male Jewish partisan leaked out (the ONE positive relationship he'd had, as it is). In short, he's an utter mess, and he's only in his late teens.

This is the state he's in when he's tasked with assisting and protecting Ratdog, a sniper who's granted the honorary rank of first lieutenant (oh wow does this detail rankle Klemper, who worked hard just to get demoted). He also hates Ratdog's drinking and whoring tendencies. After Ratdog's initial attempt at kissing Klemper results in Klemper kneeing Ratdog in the groin, elbowing him in the chin, and yelling, "SCHWUCHTEL!!" before running away, Ratdog successfully seduces him (Klemper is young, fit, Aryan, somewhat effeminate, and good looking--basically, a twink) and they spend a night together. Klemper catches feelings. But Ratdog thinks it was just some harmless fun and keeps whoring around. Klemper gets steamed. When Ratdog makes a move on him a second time, Klemper smacks him and snaps, "You want to get laid so bad, go pick up someone at the bar like you usually do!" Ratdog...isn't that bright. In fact he's kind of stupid, it's one reason he's assigned Klemper in the first place. He's mystified why Klemper is so mad. Klemper's commanding officer, Lt. Dasch (he and the men in Klemper's unit are the only people he trusts anymore), enlightens him a little while also threatening to mess Ratdog up if he upsets Klemper too badly. Ratdog's never had or wanted an emotional relationship while that's the sort of relationship Klemper's been seeking all along, yet can never find. Ratdog used him just like the other men he's known; of course he's spiteful.

Somehow, Ratdog starts warming to the concept of being monogamous, if it means Klemper will be with him, though it takes an incredibly negative experience of his own for this to happen: Ratdog actually takes Klemper's advice to go to the bar for a one-night stand. He turns down the sergeant who hits on him, however, since something feels "off," and heads home alone. Unfortunately for him, he just turned down Sgt. Lange, who's so sadistic the Nazis sometimes use him as a torture device in his own right. Lange doesn't take this well, and follows Ratdog back to his apartment. You can guess what happens. Klemper shows up the next morning when Ratdog is late and sees the state he's in (his eyes have been blackened, and he winces when he sits down); Ratdog claims it was a bar fight, but Klemper has enough experience to know better. This time Ratdog is the one to get uncharacteristically angry and snap at him to leave but he refuses. He gets even more protective, and when the two of them run into Lange at a party and Lange makes some lewd comments to Ratdog, Klemper shoves his pistol in Lange's gut and threatens him. Lange backs off--that time. Later while his and Klemper's units are searching an abandoned house, he attempts attacking Klemper and manages to pin him to a bed, but Klemper is amped up both on meth and on years of rage at being victimized, so despite being much younger and smaller and frailer than the sergeant, he headbutts Lange with his Stahlhelm and then proceeds to beat the s**t out of him until Dasch arrives to break them up. ("A misunderstanding," Klemper simply says when Dasch asks WTF happened.)

Ratdog gets a look at Klemper's blackened eyes afterward and finally understands. He isn't interested in casual flings anymore, he wants to be with Klemper. Klemper wants the same but is understandably reluctant by now, yet Ratdog is persistent. Even while they pursue a relationship, Klemper continues to insist it won't last: "Everyone leaves. No one comes back." At one particularly self-aware moment, he tells Ratdog, "It's not your fault. I was already broken...you just came along too late to make a difference." Those are the better moments; at other times, he lashes out in a rage since he's still an addict and he's still never resolved all his painful experiences--in one scene when Ratdog attempts to confiscate his Pervitin, insisting he doesn't need it when not in combat, Klemper punches him, locks himself in the bathroom, takes the drug, then regresses to his childhood when Ratdog breaks in the door, putting his arms over his head and wailing for Ratdog not to hurt him, he promises he'll be good. Both of them make a good-faith effort but it's difficult, and Ratdog has to put up with some abuse himself. Ratdog gets called to appear before Wehrmacht authorities when they discover Schavitz's appointment of him as lieutenant isn't legally valid, and when he tells Klemper, the private is resigned to never seeing him again. Ratdog insists he'll come back, but Klemper dejectedly says, "Everyone leaves. No one comes back," and walks away, waving off Ratdog's promises. WELL...Ratdog is preoccupied dealing with this legal issue for quite a while, and even ends up in jail as it turns out Schavitz never bothered to clear his appointment with the Wehrmacht, and doesn't even respond to attempts to get him to speak on Ratdog's behalf. A-hole. Instead, to Ratdog's surprise, another party arrives: Capt. Otto Himmel of the SS, whom he and Klemper had interacted with earlier (Himmel's the one who explained the circumstances of Klemper's demotion to him, as the SS were responsible for the investigation). Himmel vouches for him, with a signed letter from his superior, Maj. Jäger, to back him up. The Wehrmacht authorities are reluctant but decide to reinstate Ratdog's "unofficial" status, albeit with a warning. He's released, and wants to immediately return to Klemper, but Klemper's unit is constantly on the move and he has no idea where they are. Himmel gets on the radiotelegraph and asks around before pinning down their last known location, although it's a few days out of date. Ratdog makes his way there anyway. Asks passing Wehrmacht and Waffen-SS troops for info as he searches. Finally, as he's walking through the woods one day a voice hails him by his first name, Adel--only Klemper calls him that. In Ratdog's absence, Klemper had grown so despondent that Dasch put him on lookout duty to distract him, and he just happened to see Ratdog's approach. "You came back," he exclaims. "You came looking for me and you found me. You came back! You found me!"

Suffice it to say, from that moment, Ratdog wins Klemper's heart permanently. Although they have to separate at times, emotionally they're inseparable, and Klemper devotes himself to Ratdog completely. They still have their volatile moments, but Klemper finally finds what he's been looking for, and would literally lay down his life for Ratdog from now on. (Ratdog is used to his independence, and Klemper's clinginess is something he's unused to, but it grows on him.)

Throughout the story these two occasionally run across resistance fighter Didrika and her men. Didrika is Romani like Mirela, and like Ratdog, she's a skilled sniper. The Germans are weirded out by women taking on men's roles; Ratdog couldn't care less, but Klemper, ironically (given that some of his own actions don't exactly fit gender norms), is quite offended by her temerity. When he first sees her with her rifle (actually, her lover Boris's Russian rifle), he shouts, "Hey Flintenweib (Rifle Broad), didn't your mother teach you you belong in the kitchen?" Didrika shouts back, "Looks like you still belong with your mother, little Toy Soldier!" Ratdog can't help it; he laughs. Klemper and Didrika trade verbal barbs every time they cross paths, and Ratdog and Didrika are obligated to try to shoot each other, though there's more grudging respect involved than anything. They even end up aiding each other more often than not, with Ratdog and Klemper secretly turning on the Nazis and directing refugees in Didrika's direction.

Toward the end of the war, within days of each other, both Boris and Klemper are wounded. Ratdog comes across Boris hiding in a trench; he's been shot in the gut, is in great pain and bleeding out slowly, and Ratdog has nothing on him with which to help him. He removes all but one bullet from his pistol and gives it to his enemy, the implication silent but obvious. When he turns to leave, Boris aims the gun at him (this would've been one of those cocking-gun moments 😒 ) and says, "I can at least take out one of you Krauts before I die." "Would it be worth it, though?" Ratdog says, and leaves without looking back. Some distance away, he flinches when he hears the gunshot, then keeps walking.

Not long after (at least, I think it's in this order--unsure), Klemper is also shot. He initially looks as if he'll make it, when Ratdog removes the bullet and takes him to his forest home to recover; but Klemper dies in his sleep, bleeding out from another wound that Ratdog had overlooked in the initial mess of blood. The loss strikes him especially hard, not just because he lost his love, but also because he feels he let Klemper down, plus his negligence is reminiscent of the time he lost his son. He buries Klemper beside his son, not far from his home. While trekking through an open space a bit later, he hears a bang and feels a burning in his side--somebody has shot him. He collapses and, hearing footsteps, looks up to see Didrika approaching, gun still aimed at him, hate in her eyes. She found Boris after his suicide, and recognized Ratdog's gun in his hand. She deliberately wounded rather than killed Ratdog because "I want you to know it was me, and I want you to suffer slowly." "Like he would have?" Ratdog says. When Didrika angrily insists Ratdog could have helped Boris, he says he couldn't, and that what he did was the only solution he had. She threatens to shoot him again and he snaps, "Go ahead! I have nothing left to lose. My life is gone already." Didrika doesn't shoot, however; her breath starts hitching and her eyes fill with tears. "I loved him," she says, voice cracking, and sinks to her knees. "I should have been there with him"--and she breaks down crying. Ratdog's own eyes blur looking at her--they've both lost everything--but before he can say anything else, he passes out from blood loss. He comes to a while later in his own home, in his own bed--where Klemper had died--with his wound patched up. As soon as Didrika saw just how badly injured he was, she'd yelled, "Not you! Not you too!" and managed to get him back to his home and stop the bleeding. They haltingly begin to talk. She'd noticed the fresh grave decorated with Klemper's Stahlhelm and Iron Cross; she remembers the "Toy Soldier" who used to call her Rifle Broad. "I loved him," Ratdog echoes her own earlier words, and just as she had, breaks down.

It isn't something that happens instantly, not by a long shot, but Ratdog and Didrika end the story as a couple; post-Ultima Thule they even have two children, a son Didrika names Godfrey, and a daughter named Tatiana (after Boris's deceased sister). They never get married, and never are what you could call husband/wife or even boyfriend/girlfriend; the best term I've found to describe them is partners. They respect and care for each other, and take comfort in each other's company, but I don't think they ever truly fall in love with each other. Rather, they act as each other's placeholder, temporarily filling in the hole in each other's heart. They know neither of them can ever replace their true loves, they're just there to ease the grief and loneliness for now.

(BTW, I'm pretty sure that in a much earlier entry I described a different version of a scene with Didrika tending to a wounded Ratdog. That started out as this scene but has obviously changed. I like the dialogue from the earlier version, so it may be otherwise incorporated.)

...Why did I go into all that when this is Mirela's entry? Well, because I can, and because I didn't get the chance in the previous entries. But also because it leads into why Mirela's plotline changed. As it stands now, the previous idea for her fling with Ratdog doesn't hold up as well. I like the idea of them still hooking up, but it'd most likely have to occur much earlier in the plot, before he gets serious with Klemper. I toyed with the idea of Ratdog cheating on Klemper just once, but considering Klemper's extremely fragile mental state, I don't think it'd go well. So I'm not sure how this plot point goes yet. It may even be that Mirela simply tries to seduce Ratdog as part of a ruse (more in a minute), but then she tries to kill him before they get far. I lean most toward this because it can then occur later in the plot, Ratdog can maintain his faithfulness to Klemper (however barely), and it's more in keeping with Mirela's character than the existing scenario is.

Mirela's character is that she's been sheltered and protected by her doting father most of her life but she longs for independence, to have a purpose. His capture by the Nazis just strengthens this resolve and she wants to do anything in her power to get him back--except she has no power, no skills to speak of. She despises depending on the Trench Rats--she despises depending on any men. She'd like to learn from a woman, and she'd like to learn from the best. She'd like to learn from Didrika.

The Rats, after processing the people they've rescued, attempt to relocate them to the most appropriate parties--some go to the partisans led by Champere, some to the Diamond Network, some to Didrika and some lucky ones back to their surviving families. (Though the Network occasionally takes in rescues permanently--for example, Helena Urbach, and the Wolfsteins--Champere doesn't, and Didrika accepts only men who know how to fight. Otherwise, they just help shuttle these people to safety.) Didrika's not interested in taking the time to train anybody, especially a woman who's nowhere near as valuable as a male fighter. (Yep, kind of ironic, considering.) Still, Mirela tries to argue her case. Didrika's not too convinced, but Mirela's really passionate about her cause, and being Romani like Didrika doesn't hurt either. She agrees to take Mirela on, just temporarily--"Until you get your father back"--but Mirela has to keep up and hold her own. Didrika's not going to slow down the rest of her men for Mirela's benefit. Oh, and Mirela will have to look out for herself around all those men, too. Mirela agrees as well, and starts her stint learning how to fight alongside them.

She's...really not good at it, at first. Clumsy, soft, weak. Tears fill her eyes easily but she just wipes them away and keeps trying despite how much she fails. More than once Didrika threatens to just leave her behind, and more than once Mirela does almost get left behind. She really does try, but it gets hard to keep her spirits up when she just sucks so much at everything she does.

This scenario popped into my head literally as I was typing this. Didrika quickly gets fed up with Mirela, but it turns out she has an unexpected ally. Boris, usually no-nonsense, blunt, and unconcerned about anyone but Didrika and the few of his men who deserted the Red Army with him and joined Didrika's forces, takes pity on this young, slight woman who can't get anything right but keeps trying anyway. Without Didrika knowing, he takes her aside and offers to train her himself--he's not Didrika, but he's the best she'll get. When Mirela asks why he's interested, he admits she reminds him of his late younger sister, Tatiana, who also fought in the Red Army: "She never f**king gave up anything, got her killed, but she never did quit." Mirela accepts, and whenever there's a spare moment he teaches her various skills such as shooting (both with a pistol and with a rifle) and hand-to-hand fighting. She does learn, though she's still just not naturally skilled like most of the others, and this frustrates her. Boris advises that it's a matter of her finding her own particular skill. It's not shooting, it's not fighting, what is it? Mirela has no idea. Boris hands her a knife, demonstrates how to use it, and tells her to give it a try. Mirela comes remarkably close to hitting the target on the first try. Tries again--bullseye. Repeats it. Fights to contain her excitement; Boris just smiles and says, "So you're not a gunwoman, you're a knifewoman."

(Hey folks! Story creation in progress! I literally just came up with that whole bit right now. And yeah, it's similar to a (unfinished?) scene in my adult Ameni Chronicles series with Tas'hukh and Ri'hus, I believe, except that involves archery. Anyway. Oh, plus I looked to see if "knifewoman" has a German translation similar to Flintenweib. The term is Messerstecherin. This literally means "knifer" or "stabber." HAHAHAHAHAHA YES.)

Mirela never really gets better than average when it comes to shooting--which is the majority of activity Didrika's men engage in--but she practices constantly and gets really good with the knife. She wins a fight or two against Boris but he says the real test is Didrika herself. Takes some convincing, again, to get her to agree to a fight, but she finally does, to get Mirela off her back. Mirela loses--but not before slashing Didrika's arm open. Everyone holds their breath as Didrika clasps the wound--expecting a tirade--but Didrika merely looks at her and says, "Now you need to learn to aim for the throat."

(Privately, Didrika finds out Boris had a hand in this and exclaims, exasperated, "Seriously? You did this? What exactly are you trying to do or to prove, are you trying to make me look stupid?" Boris scoffs back, "Come now! You can't tell me you don't see yourself in her anywhere?" Which shuts Didrika up, because it's true, and likely the reason she's been reluctant to train Mirela--she doesn't like how she reminds her of her own past. She's a bit sore at Boris for the stunt, though.)

Why knives? I haven't looked back at the original adult scenes (they're cringey to me by now) to make sure, but as the two of them fight, Mirela grabs a sharp implement of some kind and attempts to stab Ratdog with it; I think she does cut him, similar to this Didrika scene. So that still fits. It also fits with the idea that in order to kill Ratdog, she'd have to get close to him, so using seduction as a ruse seems likely. (Plus this here is something Didrika can help with, as she's had plenty of experience with that.) I'm leaning toward the new scenario including Ratdog STARTING to fall for Mirela's ruse, but quickly noping out when, y'know, she tries to stab him. He succeeds in subduing and disarming her, but she pulls a Klemper and jams her knee in his groin, then headbutts him to get him to let her go. Her plan is thwarted but she escapes unharmed. Ratdog, meanwhile, is later confronted by Klemper, who gives him a sour look, arms crossed, and simply says, "Well? What do you have to say for yourself?" Ratdog's got nothing. Except a sore head and groin, I guess.

I already mentioned Mirela's initial interactions with Cpl. Gold Rat. Late in the story she comes back into touch with him; by now, he's been promoted to sergeant to assume the deceased Black Rat's place, and is recovering from serious injuries of his own. (Like Black--and like Black's killer, Schavitz--he loses an eye, and I think his leg or arm is mildly injured as well but as things are coming to a head, he insists on remaining in service.) His formerly brash, casual attitude has been tempered quite a bit and Mirela is surprised at how he's changed; he's surprised by how she's grown up and changed as well. As they interact she finds herself drawn to him, though he shows no signs of reciprocating, so she assumes he isn't interested. He learns that she's still hoping to find her father, though her hopes have dimmed considerably given the passage of time. Gold asks LC Mahogany Rat, who was able to find out what had become of Helena Urbach's husband, to try to do the same with Nikolas. It takes quite a bit of digging but Mahogany finds out the camp he was first brought to, then follows the trail to track him down to his last known location--as it turns out, the nearby concentration camp headed by Commandant Klaus. The Allies have just moved into the city and are in the process of liberating the camp, but it's a huge camp, so this will take a while. The fleeing SS guards made off with their records and everything's confusing at the moment. This is a combination labor and extermination camp, so Nikolas's current status is unknown, and it could take weeks to find him, if ever. And that's only if he's alive--if he was gassed immediately on entering the camp, there may likely be no record of him whatsoever even if the Trench Rats locate the records. Gold decides to take a risk. Maj. Klaus has been captured alive and is well known for his proclivity for taking bribes and making bargains, so Gold makes a bargain with him: He won't be executed for war crimes, if he provides what info he has on his inmates. (Gold doesn't really have the authority to promise this, so presumably there's a bit more involved than just his word.) Klaus agrees, and gives up what he knows regarding not just the possible location of the confiscated records, but individual details of his own recollection. Did his camp have any Zigeuner (Gypsies), Gold asks? It did, Klaus replies. Gold keeps asking questions to narrow it down and finally thinks he may have accounted for Mirela's father being in the camp, still alive. Klaus isn't sure of his exact location but gives a general idea of where the Zigeuner inmates were last located. As Gold departs, Klaus calls out, "You may want to hurry yourself, Herr Gold, most of 'em weren't in great shape. Killing 'em off would've been a mercy."

Gold, Mahogany, and Mirela--who's not aware of their actual purpose for visiting--arrive and witness the chaos going on within and around the camp, swarms of half-starved inmates crowding near the fences, many sitting or lying on the ground, at least some of them already dying. Allied troops weave in and out but are easily outnumbered by the vast number of prisoners. The three start walking along the fence, Gold and Mahogany trying to ask about Nikolas, but everyone is either ignorant of his whereabouts or too weak to respond. Mirela walks off ahead of the other two, staring dejectedly at the hollow-eyed captives, but halts when she realizes someone far off is calling out, "Mir? Little Mir!" That was the pet name her father used for her, even right down to while they were being chased by the Nazis. Mirela glances around, calls out, "Papa--?" but can't see him anywhere. Paces back and forth along the fence, crying out at the voice, before the crowd thins out enough for her to catch a glimpse further inside. There, sitting in the yard, too weak and injured to do anything but crawl, his eyes nonetheless light up when he sees her--Nikolas. Mirela panics a moment trying to figure out how to get into the camp to reach him; Gold and Mahogany locate an opening in the fence and she rushes to her father, dropping down and throwing her arms around him. He's near skeletal, quite ill, unable to walk, and was most likely due to be gassed sometime soon, but he's alive. This whole time he'd assumed that she'd ended up captured as well and was likely tortured or killed; it was only looking up at the moon at night that convinced him to hold on, as this was something they used to do together, and he wanted to believe she was looking at it too. "Herr Gott has brought you back to me," he exclaims; when Mirela shakes her head and says, "Nein...they did," and gestures at Gold and Mahogany, Nikolas replies, "Herr Gott had them bring you back to me."

Nikolas is in bad shape, so they immediately take him back to Trench Rat Headquarters for medical attention. He has tuberculosis and both of his feet are badly infected; Burgundy warns he may not be able to save his left leg; Nikolas replies that he can live without his legs, he can't live without Mirela. Burgundy and LC Amaranth Rat do their best, and amputate Nikolas's left leg below the knee. Mirela keeps him company as he recuperates and is treated for the TB, and he can't help but notice how she looks at Gold when he visits; she denies it at first when Nikolas asks if she has feelings for him, but finally admits it, though she adds that 1. Gold isn't interested in return, and 2. he's a gadjo, an outsider. Her father asks how does she know he isn't interested, and finds out she's never asked him; regarding the other, more pressing matter, Nikolas says, "You really think such a thing matters much anymore...? When they've killed most of us? I do not even know if the rest of our clan is still alive or not." If Mirela is truly interested in Gold, and if Gold at the very least treats her well and with respect, he sees little wrong in the two of them being involved with each other; he promises to give his blessing.

Mirela confronts Gold and decides to just out and ask it: "Do you like me?" Gold just stares at her for a moment before saying, "What...?" Mirela promptly loses her nerve and tells him never mind but he adds, "Wait--what do you mean by 'like'?" but by then Mirela is just utterly humiliated, tells him never mind again, and turns to leave. As she steps away she hears him call out, "I think you're beautiful." Mirela halts, slowly turns back. "And smart," Gold says. "And brave. And clever...and kind." Mirela hesitantly says, "So...you do like me?" to which he replies, "I'm not sure how much clearer I can make it." When she exclaims, "But--you never said anything," Gold furrows his brow and says, "Me?...you never asked."

So, despite their rocky beginning, Mirela and Gold end up a couple after all. They show up again in Ultima Thule with Gold heading to the Alpine Fortress with the main group (including Ratdog and Capt. Himmel), while Mirela remains with the others (including Helena and Didrika) who man the radio to maintain contact. After the war, she and Gold and sometimes Nikolas often stop by to visit Himmel and Johanna Wolfstein at the big country mansion they share with Himmel's adult son Kolten and the various children Himmel and Johanna adopt, as well as Ratdog and Didrika and their children, and Jakob Wolfstein and the occasional other Trench Rat who remains in the country. I'm not sure if Gold and Mirela ever have any kids of their own (if not, it's not by choice, it's just what happens), though whatever the outcome, I'm sure Nikolas doesn't mind; they're alive, they're happy, that's what counts.

[Mirela 2022 [‎Saturday, ‎August ‎20, ‎2022, ‏‎4:00:14 AM]]

[reptilisss]

1 through 59 ;^)

omg :(

1). what was the last song you had on repeat? my heart goes bang by dead or alive omg

2). who was the last person you danced with? oh idk i think a canvasser named luke at drag brunch?

3). any weird fears? oh those grates in the street? u know? the real deep ones that like u walk over? dont’ like em!

4). what is your favorite fruit? peaches!

5). where did you spend your last friday night? oh on friday i hung out w my friend sam for a bit and then picked up miles and he watched me eat a whole fucking sandwich.

6). do you believe love can last forever? i am coming around to the idea!

7). do you have siblings? no i think i’m enough to deal with by myself lol

8). what would you do if you found out your best friend was seeing your ex? mm gross

9). do you like to cuddle? yeah but i am always the big spoon. no one believes me but i am the big spoon.

10). are you easily scared by horror movies? no! they used to a lot! but idk i got to college and started doing taxidermy and then gore didn’t really bother me.

11). have you ever been kissed in the rain? yeah! junior year of college i was sitting outside w this girl i really liked and uh it was raining and she kissed me and yep that’s it

12). how do you feel about your hair? i don’t really like it. i want long hair but it freaks me out any time it gets too long. the last time i really liked it was when i had it shaved and dyed

13). have you ever had an emo phase? ya ofc i did i’m trans we all had one.

14). are you looking forward to something as of right now? lil day trip with miles :)

15). last person you talked to in person? @bitchfacemcsassypants this jerk

16). do you think someone’s thinking about you? i think maybe

17). do you believe in love at first sight? no i think love takes longer than that, but maybe the initial attraction can be felt quickly

18). do you prefer to call or text? depends on the person! texting is easier to do at work

19). have you kissed someone in the last 2 weeks? ya i kiss miles as frequently as humanly possible.

20). what’s one stereotype of where you come from that actually fits? i wanna be yuppie scum and i call the closest airport “national” not “reag*n”

21). favourite dance song? toxic by britney spears

22). what’s the most expensive thing you’ve bought in the past year? i paid to get my tits cut off lol

23). which eye colour do you find prettiest? i’m a huge fan of brown eyes. they get a bad rap as boring but i think they’re really the best. very emotive. soft. warm.

24). what’s your guilty pleasure when it comes to music? i love britney spears ok

25). do you enjoy parties? no! i like people i’m just really not good in crowds

26). describe your crush: he is my boyfriend. he’s wonderful and he has a great butt.

27). how many languages can you speak? only english! a little spanish but not enough to converse

28). what’s on your bed right now? me, my waterbottle, my phone, two (2) socks

29). most pleasing accent to listen to? southern us accent i think.

30). ‎how old are you? i just turned 24

31). have you ever been rock climbing? no but an ex of mine was super into it and tried to make me. the harnesses freak me out too much i think

32). how’s the relationship with your parents? HA. bad!

33). what’s one thing you cannot stop buying? probably underwear it’s so fun to buy

34). what do you like most about your physical appearance? oh boy. maybe my eyes. but i also love my thighs (most of the time!)

35). do you sing in the shower? oh yes i do bitch yes i do

36). when was the last time you hugged someone? earlier tonight tino and i did a little side hug.

37). cats or dogs? love em all

38). favorite cake flavour? yellow cake i’m such a basic person

39). if you had the ability to change one aspect of yourself, what would it be? money

40). are you good at any sports? no but like i also never really tried in gym class, you know? maybe i’d be good if i tried.

41). how old is your oldest living relative? oh hm. i think my grandfather is like 95 or something like that.

42). favorite color? love me a good dove grey

43). what’s the best thing about the beach? i like laying on the beach and like closing my eyes and feeling the sun warming my stomach. like a little cat bitch.

44). what’s your favourite book trope? oh like honestly just enemies to lovers i know it’s lame and cliche but i love it

45). what’s the longest journey you’ve been on? probably something corny like “my transition”

46). who is your favorite person to watch on YouTube? Chris Flemming y’all!

47). what color are your eyes? they’re blue :)

48). are you currently wanting any piercings? i think i’d really like to get my navel redone, but i’m not sure i have the right anatomy for it! also i just put stuff on my tummy a lot i’m not sure it’d work out.

49). night owl or early bird? night owl

50). favorite word? right now it’s homoerotic

[leaparrish]

Somehow Nobody Died (part one) || AJ, Blanche, Dustin, Lea, and Quinn

Backdated to June 3rd, 2017 - ACHS’s prom night.

Blanche nervously glanced around—sneaking into a high school prom wasn’t rocket science. She had gotten ready early, parked far around the building, and snuck into a far bathroom—At least she had a pretty decent conversation with her date beforehand. Logan was very nice, and if going to some school dance would let one less dead high schooler walk the school… Well, Blanche would be able to live with that. Granny wasn’t allowed to come, but Blanche had a sneaking suspicion she was lurking somewhere, as per usual. Blanche slid in about 20 minutes after everyone else, most teachers didn’t bat an eye and she disappeared into the crowd of people. Logan was beside her most of the time, cheerfully commenting on peoples tux’s and dresses. ‘I don’t under why girls wear heels when they just take them off 10 minutes into the night.’ That made Blanche smile, her own gold sparkly converse were very comfortable, and the mostly matched her dress. She snuck to the punch table, pouring herself a glass as she glanced around—good. No one was paying attention to her. “The heels make their legs look great, really.” Blanche murmured to her date.

Quinn was nervous. There was no doubt about it as he walked into the gymnasium with Dustin. He hadn't been at first. When they were at the Parrish house with all the pictures that both sets of parents wanted to take. It was easy to be distracted. Plus, Dustin looked far too good in the tux for him to be distracted there. But now they were walking into a room with the entire senior class, together, as a couple. Maybe Dustin was right to be a bit nervous about this. Looking around, he was glad to see that most people weren't actually staring at them though. Granted, they had pretty much just walked in. Reaching out, he took Dustin's hand, looking up at him with a grin that barely concealed his nerves. "So, I think my computer club friends are here already. We can go and sit with them if you want?" he asked, nodding his head towards where all the tables were. "Let's do that and not deal with your sister glaring at me the whole time,"

Walking into the gymnasium, Dustin wasn't sure what he should be worried about more: looking like a sad penguin in his tux or everyone staring at him because he was arriving with a boy. He was biting on his lip so hard that he was basically chewing on it, almost. Why had he agreed to come here again? Oh yes, because Quinn had been very cute with the way that he asked him to. But once he set foot inside the building, he this wasn't what was on his mind, no. For a moment, he just had to take in the way that the gym had transformed from their usual gym class. He could barely recognise it. He wasn't much into decoration, but the theme of the room just looked amazing. When Quinn squeezed his hand, he held it tightly, giving him a nervous smile. "Oh yes, let's do that." At least, he was familiar with Quinn's computer club people. They were pretty nice. "Just... Lea!" he called out to her sister. He was still a bit baffled that she had snatched a Senior as a date, although he'd completely forgotten the poor guy's name. "Please remember to stay inside the gym and don't run off, mum and dad said." That had kind of been a lie, they knew she wouldn't run off. "And they told me to let you know that if you need them, they're just a call away. So if you get sad or shy about this you can just call them, or come to your big brother." He was grinning now, god, he loved embarrassing her, especially in front of her date.

Lea smoothed out a small wrinkle on her dark green dress as she and her date entered the gymnasium. She'd been a bit puzzled when Kevin had asked her, but it was something pretty awesome to be able to do, even if Jenna couldn't come given that her girlfriend, Kira, was also a freshman. But she spotted at least one other freshman girl she knew, and besides, she knew some other kids who were here. Even if she did have to enter the dance with her brother as well as her actual date. But it was a small price to pay - and besides, anything she could at least somewhat hold over Dustin's head was always good. "Hm?" She commented, glancing over to him as he called out to her, shrugging out from under Kevin's arm over her shoulder. "Don't you worry, big brother," she replied, "I promise not to run off, that's not polite." She glared when she was sure that their respective dates couldn't see. "Don't you forget to check in with them every half hour, just like they asked!" She blew him an air kiss, before grabbing Kevin's hand. "And make sure to dance when your favorite song comes on!"

Quinn snickered when he heard Dustin tease his sister. To be honest, he'd never been particularly close to Dustin's sister, probably because of Dustin's own opinion of her. But ever since he found out about the magic int heir family things had been significantly worse. He leaned against Dustin slightly as the spoke, eyes focused more on finding his friends than anything else. It really did seem like the entire class was here. There were even a lot of people that weren't seniors. Was what Blanche he saw? And Aj? Just when Lea was leaving, Quinn finally managed to spot his friends. Well, one of them, over by the punch. "Have fun," he called out to Lea, glancing over. "She really doesn't like me for some reason," Quinn mumbled to Dustin, before pointing over to where the drinks are. "Let's grab drinks and then see where my friends are sitting. Greg is over there."

Dustin rolled his eyes at his sister. Of course she would return the favour and try to embarrass him right back. But it would be clear to anyone listening in that he wasn't required to call home every half hour. Right? Frowning as he was watching her grab the hand of that Senior boy - he was okay with his sister dating but that guy was a Senior - he turned back to his own date. "She's just mad at me that I told you about... you know." Despite the music being loud, he still couldn't risk anyone overhearing their conversation. When Quinn suggested getting drinks, Dustin nodded and smiled, a little relieved. Maybe he could go the entire evening without having to dance once. Hand in hand, they walked over to the punch table, when he suddenly spotted a familiar face and a familiar blonde head. "What are you doing here?" he asked Blanche, a little confused. "I thought you said you weren't coming."

Blanche had just taken a sip of her punch when Dustin interrupted. Jumped slightly, whirling around to stare at Dustin and his date. So it had been Quinn. Blanche tired her best to look innocent and not look at Logan snickering at her. "Um- change of heart!" She laughed awkwardly. "That flashing sign really, uh works!" She drank more punch, and decided to pour herself more. That stuff was good, at least. "How are you guys, you look nice."

The only thing worse than attending prom un-ironically was being forced against his will into going to prom. The newspaper class was a sort of reprieve from the regular hell AJ endured roaming the halls of this school. Most of the students there were neither popular nor bottom of the food chain, but they typically left him alone. When the idea of writing an article for the prom came up, there were all sorts of volunteers, but when the idea of taking pictures for it was introduced everyone suddenly fell silent. Everyone in class was already attending, but for pleasure not business. That left just one student that was free to take the pictures. It was enough to get him a free pass into the prom, but unfortunately he was forced to adhere to its dress code. He dressed it down as much as he possibly could, a black and white button up short sleeve with dress pants and suspenders, finished with his converse still stained from the pig's blood. The admin had given him a troubled glance at the sight, but had eventually let it slide. If anybody was going to mess him with tonight he wanted them to know that their threats and little tricks didn't phase him. Considering it was his job, he took the obligatory pictures of the as of yet announced, but shoe-in for homecoming King and Queen, the jock types, the head cheerleader, plus some shots of all of his fellow newspaper classmates. A few times his lens passed over some recently familiar faces, Dustin gripping tightly onto Quinn's hand which AJ couldn't say surprised him much. Lea had apparently locked into a senior willing to bring a freshmen to prom. Interesting choice. his camera eventually landed on a large flask, held onto by a student with his back turned to AJ's camera, emptying into the punch bowl. Well that can't turn out well. But it also wasn't AJ's problem or any of his business. So he moved on, attempting to get some shots of the dance floor that was slowing starting to fill.

Lea watched Dustin as Quinn lead him away, giving a small sigh. Part of her had wanted to still talk with her brother, but soon enough Kevin was asking her something and Lea gave a small shake of her head. "Hm? Sorry, got distracted." She replied, turning so that she was facing him more fully. "I was just wondering if you'd like to go over to the table where my friends are?" He said, using his free hand to give a small wave to a group of boys and girls - some Seniors, some Juniors, many of whom Lea recognized at least by sight, even if she didn't actually know them. "Sure, works for me." She quipped, following him over, her smile growing when she saw Amanda coming back over to the table with a few cups of punch. "None for me, thank you." She said when Amanda held a cup up to her. "Never liked juice much at all." She bit her lip and glanced over to the table Amanda had just come from - where Dustin was, before turning back to Kevin's friends.

Quinn frowned again, shrugging. "Yeah I kind of figured that," it was certainly when things had gotten worse. "But that's not exactly your fault right?" he added. It was if you counted the fact that he didn't need to heal him. As they walked over to the punch bowl, Quinn tried his best not to just keep looking at Dustin, he really looked too good in the tux, and focus on what else was going on. But in the short walk his eyes were drawn back to his boyfriend. He was staring and didn't really care. "Oh," he blinked, looking when Dustin spoke again. He recognized the girl immediately and smiled. "Hey, I didn't think you were coming," Quinn said, squeezing Dustin's hand at the compliment. "Thanks," he grinned, looking at Dustin. "See? We're a cute couple," he teased, voice low so just Dustin would hear.

Blanche kept the smile on her face, nervously looking at Dustin and Quinn. Sure, they really did look nice. But she hadn't actually thought she was going to run into themB. She saw AJ in the crowd snapping pictures, and she was totally ready too panic-- 'I think your date could use some punch', Logan said, cheerfully. Blanche glanced at the empty space that was her date, and she gave a small smile. Thank god for Logan. She looked to Quinn, trying to keep that easy smile n her face as she watched them interact. They really were a cute couple-- for once, she would have the gossip to tell Granny when she got home. Blanche smoothed down the skirt of her dress. "Well-- uh--" She downed her cup of punch and went to pour two more. "My date-- he, uh.... Is that way! I have to bring him punch! Gottagoseeya!!" Blanche's words muddled together as she hurried away, praising whatever deity above that there was a swarming crowd on the dance floor. She looked at the two punch cups in her hand. "What am I supposed to do with two?!" She mumbled to Logan, who had hurried after her laughing. 'Drink'em up for me!!'

"Well, it kind of is," Dustin replied. "I mean, so far she hasn't told anyone, not even her closest friends, so I can kinda understand she thinks it's unfair that I told you," he said. When Blanche complimented them, he smiled at her a little. "Thanks, we're good, and you look great, by the way." He rolled his eyes at Quinn's words, not sure if he believed what he was saying. "I don't really believe that you did the whole sign thing," Dustin teased Blanche, frowning when suddenly she started speaking very fast, practically running off. "I swear, there is something off with her," he told Quinn, remembering the time she had practically fled from him in the nurse's office. Just like she had now. He craned his neck to see where she would go, he was more than curious about who her date was. "Do you think she has a crush on one of us?" Wow, did he have to sound so arrogant and self-centered? Dustin turned towards the punch bowl to pour them two big cups.

"Punch?" AJ turned towards the entirely too perky girl behind the table helping fill cups. He thought he had kept a safe distance from the table of food that they would leave him alone, or that him taking pictures would make him look too busy to be bothered. "No thanks." he mumbled before making a quick escape to towards the entrance to photograph a few people just walking in. On his way towards the entrance a football player stepped in his path. "You trying to catch pictures of us when we go into the bathroom or something freak? Or are you scoping out your next victim?" AJ rolled his eyes and sidestepped to get around the tool. "Stop talking to me or the only picture you'll see in the school newspaper is that very racy photo of you 'studying' with your best friend's girlfriend." The dude looked pissed, but he stayed quiet and AJ patted the guy on the back and continued walking towards the entrance. He wished the crowning wouldn’t be so late into the night and he could skip out early. If he had to take pictures of the same popular kids all night long he might actually need some of that spiked punch. He needed to find some people that weren’t as insufferable.

"I guess so... but it was more of an accident. And I guess it," he grumbled with a slight frown. It was so easy to get along with Quail, why was Lea still so difficult? Quinn watched as Blanche pretty much chugged the punch and then ran off with two more. "She's weird," he said simply with a shrug. He hadn't spoken with her very often, but from what he'd seen, and heard around school, she was just an odd girl. "Have you still been thinking about that?" Quinn asked, arching an eyebrow and taking his cup from Dustin, sipping it slowly. "I doubt it. And she obviously knows we're together now," he said after taking another sip. "Oh!" he said, turning around, remembering why they had come over to the punch bowl in the first place. "I think we missed Greg," he said with a frown, before spotting him at a table with his other friends. "Oh, there he is. Want to go over and say Hi?" he asked, taking Dustin's hand again and tugging in that direction, across the dance floor.

Blanche grumbled slightly, finishing off her forth glass of punch. She wasn't usually so into drinking such sugary drinks, but drinking this was better than talking to anyone— speaking of, her date seemed to be enjoying himself. 'Hey! Let's go somewhere quieter- so we can actually talk. Plus this enchanted forest thing is kinda...' Tactless. Blanche nodded in agreement— she was starting to feel a little funny, but that was fine. She looked at the decorations with a frown. He was t wrong, considering what had happened two years ago, maybe the forest wasn't that good. Shaking her head, Blanche started to weave through people- she could get the the entrance and talk to Logan in the adjacent hallway. She smoothed down the front of her dress, and stumbled slightly going around. And then there was a glass of punch in front of her face. "Punch?" A perky girl offered her. Blanche blinked, took the drink mumbling a thank you as she started sipping at the drunk. 'Is it good?' Logan asked, peering in it. "Decent, yeah!" Blanche replied. She was feeling pretty cheerful, and she slipped past someone, trying to keep an eye out for cameras. She did look nice, but she'd rather avoid photos.

"Don't forget that time when your sister refused to talk to me because of a joke that I had made," Dustin pointed out. At least Lea's reason for being mad was a bit more understandable. "Uh, a little, yeah," Dustin said, starting to sip on his drink. It was nice and sugary. "Just because she'd literally only be the second person in this universe to have a crush on me. So that would be important, kinda. At least to my self-esteem. And maybe that is why she ran off, maybe she didn't like seeing us together," he pointed out. Holding Quinn's hand, he nodded as they walked over to Quinn's friend. "Hi," Dustin said with a small smile. He didn't know if he was any good at smalltalk - often, he was simply too direct or too odd. And he didn't want to make Quinn's friend think that he was strange. Which was why he started drinking more of the punch - as long as he was downing his drink, he didn't have to talk, he could simply nod along to everything that was said. He turned his head a little to look around the gym. His eyes fell on his sister, who had been joined by one of her friends.

The idea of prom had seemed a lot more fun in TV shows and movies - though in Pretty Little Liars, the dances had often seemed to end with some sort of danger, which Lea was not especially keen on having happen right now. She grinned over at Kevin and his friends as they talked, laughing along at something they'd said. Kevin's arm was draped over the back of her chair and Lea glanced over to him, catching a small sight of Dustin as he walked over to another table and AJ - out of the corner of her eye. She sucked in a deep breath and coughed briefly, hitting her chest lightly with a balled up fist. "You okay?" Kevin raised an eyebrow, handing her his almost all the way drunk cup of punch and Lea took a tiny sip, making a face as she sipped. It was way too sweet and she handed it right back. "Thanks, sorry. All good now." She glanced back over to where AJ was, hoping he hadn't noticed her.

AJ could slowly watch the effects of the spiked punch kicking in across the crowd. Kids were dancing a little more wildly, the talking was louder and the laughing was more obnoxious than usual. He watched a few people stumbling around the dance floor or bumping into others. Could these people have no idea that the alcohol was spiked? How did anybody not realize that someone had slipped alcohol into their drunk? Curiosity got the better of him and he strolled over towards the table, the same perky girl from earlier, holding a cup out towards him "Change of heart?" To most her smile might have seemed warm or welcoming but to AJ it just felt condescending. "You got me" he smiled back at her, hoping the contempt could be heard in his voice. He took a small sip and began wondering if he had just imagined the whole thing earlier because there was no alcohol taste at all in that punch. Deciding not to take the chance, he tossed the rest of it into a trash can and spotted Dustin and Quinn at a table with some other students that he knew by name but nothing else. He made his way to them and held his camera up as evidence, "Hey I'm taking pictures for the newspaper, you guys mind posing for a picture?"

"Right... I forgot about that," he mumbled, before laughing. "Well now she has to talk to you because your'e my boyfriend," he pointed out, breaking out into a big grin. It was always nice calling Dustin that. Quinn sipped on his drink more, it was very sweet and he wasn't sure how much of this he could really drink. Chuckling, Quinn moved in front of Dustin with a small smirk. "What? Am I not enough for you or something?" he teased. "Since when did you become such a player? "Hey guys!" Quinn said happily as he greeted his friends. He got introduced to the girls, most of whom he didn't know, and he accordingly introduced Dustin to them, sipping on his drink as they spoke. Quinn wasn't usually the most social, but for some reason he wasn't doing that bad today. Maybe he just wanted to impress Dustin. He was pulled away from talking when AJ came over to them. "I didn't think you'd be here," he said with a small smile. He'd always tried to connect with AJ, but for some reason it never worked. Well, he knew why it didn't. So he was a bit surprised he came over here. "Ugh, yeah, totally," he said, looking at Dustin and smiling. "Right?" he asked, setting his cup down and wrapping an arm around Dustin's waist.

"Not technically. I mean, she could ignore me if she wanted to." Just because Quail was his boyfriend's sister didn't mean they had to talk, or that they had to necessarily get along. Although, apart from interrupting, Quail wasn't so bad. Maybe it was because she was 20. Dustin was about to protest that no, he was not a player at all, shouldn't Quinn know that, they were already talking to his friends and their dates. He was gulping down his drink so quickly to avoid smalltalk that by the time that AJ came over to them, he had already finished his cup so he set it down at a table, resisting the urge to wipe his mouth with his sleeve. "Oh, hey!" he said, smiling at AJ. "I don't think we mind, no," he said, trying to keep his nervousness from showing as Quinn put his arm around his waist to pose for the picture. Sure, he'd expected people to see them interact as a couple, and also his parents had made them take pictures at home, but this was something else. This was going to be in the newspaper. "So, uh," he said, glancing at AJ and his outfit. "No date?" he asked. It seemed sort of hard to believe that no one had wanted to be his date. Maybe it was because most of the students thought he could be a serial killer, though technically for some people that whole mysterious bad-boy thing might just increase attraction.

AJ knelt down one knee to try to get the best angle for the shot. If AJ was going to be forced against his will to take these pictures tonight he was going to at least spend it getting pictures of people he didn't despise. "For whatever reason no one promposed to me," AJ shrugged his shoulders as if this truly perplexed him and then stood back up, "It was either this or failing my newspaper final, so not by choice." He pulled the picture up on the screen of his camera and turned it towards the two. "You guys look good. Like it?" The ease AJ used to have talking to other students had been gone for a year or two. In its place was a subtle unease that every one was seconds away from making some comment about his father. "How'd your sister rope a senior into bringing her?"

Blanche laughed loud, covering her mouth to keep the sound echoing around the hallway as she stumbled slightly. Logan was a funny ghost- she wished he wasn't dead. 'You look really pretty tonight!' Logan commented. They found a secluded area of the hallway. Blanche smiled, her face flushing. It was much cooler out here. "Thanks- I've gotten a few nasty stares from the teachers for my bare midriff though." Blanche snorted slightly looking down at her dress. The two piece was the best she could do in the short span of time. 'Ah, yes, and if this were two years ago you'd have been crucified by the girls— and not a long dress?? You're showing your legs!!! What an absolute nightmare!!' Logan laughed at her, and Blanche joined in. "Nothing can be as bad as- oh?" Blanche heard the music shift inside the gym to something slightly slower. She was feeling weird, and shakey slightly- must have been some sort of adrenaline rush. "Here, dance with me, or try!" Blanche giggled slightly, and Logan snorted. Blanche mock put her hands on her shoulders and he attempted to put his on her waist-- she would never get used to the cold feeling when a ghost put a limb through you. Under normal circumstances, Blanche would have never done this in public- but the hallway was empty, no one was coming, right?

Lea tapped her fingers against her thigh, nervously, as AJ took a picture of Dustin. He didn't know she was here. He couldn't. Maybe - she could only hope - he'd ignore her friends and her, by extension. She couldn't hear his conversation with Dustin and Quinn over the music - but that didn't matter, not right now. "Um!" She exclaimed, suddenly. "Sorry, I realized I need to get something - that's out in the hallway." She grinned at Kevin. "I can come," he offered, hand tapping her shoulder. "Or any of us can - make sure nobody bothers you. Especially not that freak Amanda was telling us about the other day." Lea coughed. "I'm really fine, honest. I just need to use the restroom, that's all! Plus, he's over there." She pointed, standing up. "So, uh, just watch him there and I'll be back in a moment." She made her way quickly out of the gym and sucked in a deep breath, pulling out her phone to text Jenna. After sending a text, she glanced up, noticing another girl in the hallway who appeared to be dancing by herself, though her arms were draped as though there was someone else there. Lea pushed herself off the wall and made her way over, noticing, upon further examination that it was Blanche - the girl she knew some said always talked to herself. Lea tapped her on the shoulder. "Sorry, but you know you can hear the music better inside, right?" She offered a careful smile, after a quick glance around to make sure Kevin hadn't followed her. She quirked her lips to the side and drummed her fingers on her thigh.

Now that AJ was no longer pointing his camera at them, Dustin felt himself relax a little. "Yeah, I like it," Dustin said, smiling a little and resting one hand on Quinn's back. "You managed to make us look look, thank you." He looked up from the screen of the camera just in time to see Lea pointing into their direction. He frowned. What was this about? His eyes followed her as she walked towards the exit of the gym. Hopefully, everything was alright and hopefully Kevin wasn't being a jerk. Or maybe she just had to use the toilet. He'd definitely keep an eye on her to make sure she'd come back soon. When suddenly, AJ asked about her, Dustin was sure that he was able to read his mind. But that was bullshit, wasn't it? "Beats me." He shrugged. "Black magic, probably." He could feel arms feeling a little sweaty in the gym stuffed with people. Wearing a tux wasn't exactly the best thing for these types of situations, especially with all those lights generating a lot of heat. "Um, I'm gonna get something more to drink," he announced, then glancing at Quinn and AJ. "Can I get you two a cup, too?" He wasn't sure how he would manage carrying three cups, but he was certain somehow he'd do it.

Quinn looked at the picture with a grin. It was really good, probably better than the ones their parents had taken. The fact that it was probably going to be in the newspaper, or possibly at least, didn't really occur to him. "Yeah, it's great man," Quinn said with a nod. He leaned slightly against Dustin when he kept the hand on his back, before frowning slightly up at him. Sometimes Dustin could be a little naive. It was fairly obvious why AJ didn't have a date to prom. He had gone through something similar when his parents were first arrested. Granted, he was only 8 at the time, so there wasn't a dance or anything. But people the kids knew at his old school died because of his parents. You almost always became a pariah aver that. Glancing over, Quinn saw Lea leaving to go outside, but didn't think much of it. "Oh, yeah, I'd love one," Quinn said, looking at his half empty one. He finished it pretty quickly before setting it on the table. "So you got roped into this for class?" he asked AJ.

Blanche and Logan were giggling when she was tapped on the shoulder, and Blanche yelped, whirling around to look at Lea. However, instead of the mortifying feeling building in her stomach, she started to laugh, cheerfully waving. "I was just practicing for a-" she was gunna say job interview, but she was laughing too hard to finish the sentence. Blanche covered her mouth, a little unsure why everything seemed so shakey, but she soon controlled herself. "Sorry, I, uh, was distracted by something else. I was just waiting for my date." Logan started laughing himself, and Blanche fought not to look at him. "I like your dress though, you look nice— uh—" was Lea going to wait with her for her ghost date that was right there. "I was just gunna go get some punch for me and my date." Blanche pointed back towards the entrance. "Am I in your way??"

Lea bit her lip, looking quizzically at Blanche. "You're awfully cheerful." She ran her tongue across her teeth. "I hope your date comes out soon." Something seemed off, though Lea couldn't totally place just what it was. Or maybe there was more than one thing. "Thanks." Lea glanced down at her dress. "I like this color green, and I thought it'd work well for prom, though not so much as to take away from any actual proper seniors, hah." She let out a small, nervous giggle. "No, you're not. I probably need to go back before my date comes looking for me." She shrugged. "Are you going now, or...?"

AJ actually laughed at the black magic comment. It was too casual for it to be the truth but it humored AJ none the less. Truth was, AJ as a freshman had been in a similar boat as Lea seemed to be. Already having the protection of Amanda was a good sign for someone's popularity. He waved his hand dismissively at Dustin's offer of punch. "Nah I'm good." Maybe he should have warned them, but if it didn't taste like alcohol and it couldn't be that strong in the first place right? As Dustin took off AJ called back out to him, "Just uh- don't go overboard. Sugar high you know?" AJ became acutely aware that it was now just him standing there awkwardly with Quinn. He didn't seem like the other kids at school, hell the two probably had more in common than AJ with anybody else at the school. Not that AJ was willing to say it out loud. He could barely admit it to himself. AJ had been kind of a dick to Quinn, but he could at least recognize that the guy had good intentions. Maybe he could restrain himself from being an asshole for the night. "Yeah, everyone else in the class didn't want to take pictures on account of actually being here to have fun. You guys look you're having fun though."

Dustin smiled when he saw AJ laugh. At least he wasn't having a terrible time despite the fact he was kind of forced to be here and take pictures of everyone, probably even the people who talked shit about him. That had to suck a lot. Hopefully, if his grade didn't suffer for that, he might manage to take super unflattering people of those that bullied him. "Okay," he said when Quinn said he wanted a drink, too. He took a step away and then, impulsively, leaned back and pressed a small kiss to Quinn's cheek before leaving, cup in hand. He was about halfway to the drink table when AJ called for him. Dustin turned around, thinking he might have changed his mind, but no, he was just warning him about a sugar high. Dustin scoffed. AJ sounded too much like his mum, and so he just shook his head and rolled his eyes before proceeding. He was so goddamn thirsty and hot in this tux and in this stuffed gym, he better stay hydrated. So he filled his cup again and then started sipping it while watching Quinn and AJ at the other side of the room. After finishing the cup he filled it up again, and then another one for Quinn.

She grinned at Lea, brushing a blonde curl that was getting in her face away. "Fairly, yeah! And dark green is a good color no matter who you are-- I'll guess you didn't blow $700 on a dress, then?" From what she knew about Lea, she was Dustn's sister. And Dustin's sister meant freshman. Blanche couldn't seem to stop grinning and she nodded slightly, pointing to the entrance. "I was gunna go get him more punch, yeah! Let's, uh, head that way." Out of the corner of her eye, she thought she saw a light flash and then fizzle out, as well as something phase through a wall-- a ghost that was in prom dress. How fitting. Maybe she went shopping at a ghost store-- Blanche tried to halt the ridiculous thought and shook her head. "I'm going now!" Blanche almost sang. She had never felt like this before, and she almost got motion sick while walking. She paused, and looked back at Lea. "You coming?"

Giving a small shrug, Lea nodded. "Um, yeah. Absolutely did not spend $700 on this." She tugged briefly a the skirt, offering Blanche a brief smile. She knew that the other girl was in Dustin's grade, but hadn't heard him mention her much, though Lea was pretty sure that Blanche might be even better at math than Dustin was, though Lea was also fairly sure that was impossible. Caught up in her own thoughts a bit, she didn't quite pay attention to Blanche, though she did jump when a light went out. It was all fine, Lea reminded herself. There was nothing too much to worry about right now, except for the fact that AJ was still in the room and might have gone to talk to the populars. "Yes!" Lea replied with perhaps a bit too much enthusiasm, rushing to catch up to Blanche. "Though I thought the punch was quite a bit too sweet, but it seems to be a hit, so that's good for the rest of you all."

Blanche waited for Lea to catch up to her in her little heels before going heading back towards the entrance. It would be less suspicious heading in with someone who was actually supposed to be there anyway. "It is a little sweet- there must be a lot of sugar in it." Blanche agreed, "I don't usually binge on sugar drinks like this but–" Logan and her glanced at each other. "My date loves them, and it really isn't too bad." Except for the sugar rush it was making her have- that's what it had to be, right? She was fine. They entered the dance again, and Blanche glanced at her, unsure if she was going to follow her. Blanche stumbled slightly but caught herself as she went to go accept another two cups from the perky girl. "Enjoy!" the girl grinned, and Blanche couldn't help but grin back, starting to sip at one. She would definitely enjoy.

"Yes, lots of sugar. Also it's hardly a natural color for a juice to be. Far too vibrant, but hey. I guess that's what parties have, right?" Lea replied, with a bit of excessive enthusiasm forced into her voice. "I like some juices, but usually when they come in smoothie form. My date and friends seem to be way into the punch though, so kudos to whoever had that idea." She pushed open the door and the two of them entered, and Lea glanced back over to the table where Kevin and Amanda and the others sat, and when she'd looked back at Blanche, another girl had seemingly bombarded them with excessive levels of enthusiasm and more drinks. "I'll get one for my date." She grinned to the other girl, grabbing a cup and waving a goodbye to Blanche as she scurried back to her table. When she arrived, she handed the cup to Kevin and sat back down with a grin. "Nice music selection they've got!" She commented to him. "Are we supposed to like, dance? Since we haven't done that yet." She wrinkled her nose. "Sure, whenever you'd like." Lea glanced over to Dustin - at least he was having fun - and to Blanche, whose date still hadn't shown up again - and she grabbed Kevin's hand. "Now's good." Spoken too quickly again, she'd have to calm her nerves down at least a bit. AJ wouldn't try anything right now, especially not if Kevin or Amanda were nearby. She tugged him until they were to the dance floor and placed her hands on his shoulders as another song started up.

By the time two hours had passed Quinn had drank a lot of the punch. His head was swimming and he found everything funny and fun. Despite that, he still hadn't managed to convince Dustin to come and dance with him. "C'mon," he said with a grin, arm tugging lightly at Dustin's arm. "Everyone else is dancing, I want to dance with my boyfriend," he laughed, words slurring slightly. Quinn could tell he felt funny, but right now he had one goal. He glanced over to the rest of the people dancing. It seemed like everyone was dancing weirdly, like they were all drunk. Quinn moved closer to Dustin, standing in front of him and putting his hands on his hips, leaving in close. "It'll be fun," he said, giggling slightly as he kissed his cheek.

Dustin had a plan. Every time Quinn would convince him to try and dance, he would pretend that he was dying of thirst right now and immediately needed to fetch them more drinks. So far, it had worked, but now as he sat down his empty cup and he was being persuaded, he wasn't sure if he could drink any more or else his head might explode like in that weird science articles that proved that yes, you could actually die from drinking too much water. "But I'll look like a baby penguin when I dance," he protested, then had to laugh about his own comparison. He sighed, pulling his hands around Quinn's neck to hold himself up. Why was standing up so difficult? Maybe it was all the lights, making his head feel weird. Too much light exposure could do that right? Wait, he wasn't a vampire. "Fiiine," he sighed, moving a little in what he hoped was dancing. "But only if we can make out in the bathroom later. Promise me."

'YOUNG LADY YOU PUT THAT PUNCH DOWN RIGHT NOW!' Normally, Blanche would be totally bummed out to have her Granny with her during prom, but now she just looked her in the eye and and chugged her punch. She didn't know how many she'd had at this point, but Granny appeared a while ago and informed her some idiot had spiked the punch. And her she was, in the abyss of people dancing to the music. There were a few angry ghosts about making the lights flicker erratically but it made most people dance even more erratically. Blanche was, for once, ignoring every presence of ghosts except her date. She danced with most people that had even made fun of her in the past, she didn't care. She was barely even aware of how drunk she was, and barely registered she was probably in some nasty snapchats. She'd care in the morning. Blanche saw Dustin and Quinn and she waved wildly to them— Logan was by her side trying to calm her down to no avail. "Dustin!!! Quuuuuuuinn!! Come dance with meeeeeeee!!" She was hobbling/dancing her way to them.

AJ had been very, very wrong about the alcohol content. Which didn't make any sense to him, considering the taste. But apparently the entire crowd had thought the same because by the time the administration was setting up the microphone to announce the King and Queen the dance floor was a mad house. People were stumbling over each other and crumpling to the ground only to burst into laughter and crawl right back up into another dance. AJ didn't miss the opportunity to snap as many pictures of the drunken crowd as he could and being extra patient with his shots so that he captured the most flattering pictures of the popular crowd as possible. Mid-snap he caught a glimpse of Blanche stumbling her way across the floor towards Dustin and Quinn, both of whom looked equally drunk in their own right. AJ shook his head and looked away from them. Not his problem. He just needed to keep reminding himself that. A tap on the mic distracted him as the principal took the stage to announce the winners. AJ blocked out the talking and distracted himself by looking strictly through his lens. The winners were unsurprising and exactly who AJ had expected would win. What he hadn't expected was for the king to trip and fall flat on his face on his way up the steps. AJ laughed out loud hysterically for a few seconds making sure that he didn't miss that photo opportunity. Half the crowd gasped while the other burst into laughter. The King eventually made it back onto his feet but both him and the Queen who was announced seconds later were both trashed. The Principal wasn't the brightest man alive, but he wasn't an idiot either. By now the administration was finally starting to catch on to the rest of the crowd, which could only spell trouble once they figured out what had happened to the punch.

Lea had taken a small break from dancing but Kevin had, for some reason, decided that taking a break was not at all exciting and had asked Lea to come and hang out on the dance floor, even though his dancing abilities had gone down hill the more punch he'd had to drink. When the Principal tapped on the microphone to announce the winners, Lea swung out of the position she and Kevin had been in as they were dancing, but let him keep his harm around her shoulders - he seemed to need steadying, and his breath smelled a bit sweet with something more mixed in - alcohol, it hit her, just as the Queen - Hannah - announced that she and her boyfriend William were both incredibly trashed and Lea's eyes wandered. Dustin had been drinking a lot of the punch too, and so had that girl Blanche who she'd run into in the hallway. Maybe that was why she'd wandered off. "You okay?" She turned back to Kevin, placing a hand on his chest to make sure he was steady. "Do you need help, or anything?" He shook his head. "No, no need, we can just dance more. Your dress is great, did you know that?" Lea smiled up at him. "Thanks, glad you appreciate." She let her eyes wander, trying to take in the rest of the room. Their parents were gonna kill Dustin if he showed up at home like this.

Quinn's smile immediately grew when Dustin tried to make another excuse. "But you'll look like a cute penguin," he countered. It seemed he had finally worn Dustin down enough to dance though. With an even bigger smile, he leaned into Dustin as he stood, wrapping his arms around him and moving along with the music. He wasn't a great dancer either, but this was still fun. "You don't need to convince me to go make out with you later," he laughed, shaking his head and letting it rest on Dustin's shoulder for a moment. He hear someone calling his name out though, and pulled away for a moment, still keeping close to Dustin and dancing but looking around and spotting Blanche making her way over to them. His attention was pulled away later as the king and queen were announced, snorting in laughter at what happened. "They look drunk," Quinn commented to Dustin before blinking and frowning. "Wait... I feel drunk. Fuck. We're drunk!" and then he burst out into laughter and kissed Dustin.

Dustin smiled happily when Quinn agreed to make out with him later. That's what prom was all about, wasn't it? He kept his arms tightly around his neck to keep standing, rhythmically swaying along to the music. When he heard his name being called, he turned his head to stop Blanche making their way towards them. Dustin gave her a small wave before his attention was captured again by his boyfriend. "We're not dru-" he was about to protest when suddenly he was kissed. Hands gripping at his neck, he kissed him back with no care about who the hell saw them when suddenly, he remembered Blanche. "Oh!" he said, pulling back. "Blanche!" he yelled at her. "I need to- what do I need to- oh right, I need to ask you something!"

Blanche was stumbling, but was pushed back with the rest of the crowd to watch the king and queen get crowned— only to realize that they were totally trashed too and they totally just announced it to the entire gym. Blanche began laughing- she was trashed too!!! Wait- horror filled her for a second. She was trashed too! She had never been drunk in her life!!! She heard Dustin yelling for her and she turned to find them, feeling wobbly all the way. "Whaaaat?! Dustin???" Oh no she definitely couldn't walk in a straight line. She felt herself being easily swept by the crowd, but she broke free trying to reach Dustin. Her mind saw an empty stretch of floor to Dustin and Quinn. She ignored whatever her Granny was telling her, and decided to get to Dustin and Quinn as fast as she could--- cartwheels were fast. At least they were when she still did dance classes. Blanche ignored whatever her granny had to say and tipped herself over— the result was her Granny cussing while she did a somewhat of a somersault and landed on her ass. Tomorrow she'd be thankful she wore teeny shorts under her short prom dress. Blanche blindly looked up, trying to reach for something to steady her. "Dustin??"

The administration was definitely taking notice to the fact that everybody seemed drunk off of their asses, which was because everybody was in fact drunk off of their asses. He spotted a few of the chaperones casually walking through the crowd now, walking over to listen in on conversations or talking to those obviously too drunk to realize what was going on. They were taking names. Those people were at risk of being in big trouble tomorrow, and AJ knew how shit like this worked. Whenever something bad happened fingers were immediately pointed, and what better proxy than himself? Half the high school was out to get him, and probably half by now had a legitimate reason to hate him, he had made sure of that. If they were going to hate him regardless he might as well actually do things to deserve that hate. He stuffed his camera back into the bag that had been slung over his shoulder. He had gotten the shots that he needed and now it was time for him to dip out before things got too crazy. He started going for the exit when he spotted Blanche cartwheeling right onto the floor. She landed on the floor right in front of Dustin and Quinn, both well on their way to being as drunk as Blanche obviously was. And then there was one of the chaperones, Mrs. Miller, making her way right towards them. Just leave AJ. You don't owe them anything. Just leave.... Damn it. "Mrs. Miller..." He rushed to her side, putting on a confused face, forcing his muscles to contract and tears to rush to his eyes. She seemed to have her eyesight trained on the only three people in the school that didn't seem hellbent on hating him. "Someone is puking all over the hallway... I think there might be blood." He wiped at his eyes dramatically and watched his her eyesight finally turned from Blanche, Dustin and Quinn and stared directly at AJ. Oh no sweetie. Stay here I'll go check it out. He grinned when she turned her back and walked towards the hallway and then did a 180 to make a beeline for the three of them. "Administration is coming around and looking for drunk people. You all need to leave. Like right now, let's go." He pointed toward the exit, which seemed to be clear of administration at the moment as they all seemed busy investigating the crowd.

Quinn was surprised when Dustin kissed him back like that. He'd been expecting just a quick peck and then for Dustin to get all shy like he did in public. This was a far nicer response. Quinn actually let out a slight whine when Dustin pulled back, glancing over to Blanche. Pouting slightly, he kept his arms wrapped around Dustin. They were definitely drunk he decided, looking at the way Blanche was stumbling over to them. "Did you just... What just happened?" Quinn asked, bursting out into laughter and leaning onto Dustin for more support than he'd usually need. And then suddenly AJ was coming over to them. In his current state of inebriation, it was hard to keep track of everything going on. "I told you we were all drunk!" he said with a laugh, poking Dustin slightly, but stumbling and using his boyfriend once more to keep himself up. "But it's prom, we can't just leave early,"

Dustin let out a loud laugh as he watched Blanche land on her ass, fuck, that had been far too funny. He reached out to try to pick her off the floor, but with Quinn's arms around him he didn't get very far. And then suddenly, AJ was with them and wanted them to leave. What a party pooper. "Admino- administration can look at us all they want!" Dustin exclaimed. "Because we're not drunk. To get drunk, you need to consumate alcohol. We did not consumate any alcohol. Gosh, Quinn, I thought you were smart." He gave him a pout before unwrapping his arms from his boyfriend, stumbling over to Blanche. He tried to both help her up and give her a hug, which ultimately resulted on him landing on the floor, arms sprawled out behind him. "Blanche!" he said loudly. "I was gonna ask you- you have a crush on me, right? Because you always run from me. Why do you always run from me. I'm nice." He looked up at Quinn. For once, his boyfriend was actually taller than him. "But you can't date me because I am seventy percent gay, I think. You should date Lea instead, you're both short. Speaking of Lea, where is she? I can't leave without her. Mum would hex me. Literally. Like, she would literally hex me so much and turn me into a frog. A literal frog."

Blanche had erupted into giggling, which only worsened as AJ arrived onto the scene. Granny was still talking and she was certain she saw Logan about, trying to calm the other ghosts down. The dance had clearly erupted into chaos--- But Blanche tried to accept Dustin's help off the ground, only to fall back on her ass, absolutely howling with laughter, her face absolutely flushing when Dustin asked his question. "Nooooo!! I just like.... Uh... I'm always talking too.... hahahaha--" Blanche was laughing again, shaking her head. "I always gotta talk to--ooo!" Blanche had to stop herself from speaking, somehow. "My boss! Job interview! I always say job interview! HA!!!" Blanche snorted, shaking her head-- for a second, she was entertained by her blonde curls bouncing from side to side before she looked up at AJ. "You're my biology partner!!" Blanche tried to scramble to her feet then. She would be thankful she opted for her sparkly gold converse in the morning, even if she was swaying dangerously. "We have to leave? Ooooh by the way, we are drunk! Gran- I mean my date said someone spiked the punch! HA! Oh no I've had way too many glasses-- I met Lea!" Blanche said, suddenly. "I think she's over--- she's over--- over--" Blance began going in circles, circling first Dustin and then AJ trying to look, while simultaneously digging through the clutch that she had for her keys. "OVER THERE!!" Blanche stopped, and pointed with one hand. "Do we have to leeeeave! Wait, I'm not supposed to be here." Her other hand had dug out her bright pink land-yard that had her car keys on it. "I don't wanna leave!!"

Jesus Christ, I should have just left them to fend for themselves. AJ smacked the palm of his hand onto his forehead and slowly drug it down the entirety of his face. This was why he had tried to talk himself out of coming to help them in the first place. They didn’t seem to want to leave anyways, each making some comment about not wanting to go. AJ had the opportunity right now to turn and leave the three behind and go home. That option was easier and would not be as headache inducing. He was almost ready to until Blanche pulled out her keys and AJ heard the rattling. Fuck. Snatching the keys out of her hands and stuffing them into her pockets, AJ looked the three over to find the one that looked the most responsible. All three looked drunk, but Dustin and Blanche had just tumbled to the floor moments before, so AJ turned to Quinn. “I get you don’t want to leave and I get that you might be too drunk to understand consequences. But focus for a second,” AJ pointed right between his eyes to try to get his attention, “Get in trouble tonight and you can forget about walking down that stage and getting your diploma in a couple of weeks. Now take these two and head towards the exit.” Now he turned to Dustin, “I’ll go get your sister.” Hoping that Quinn would take the hint, AJ turned to find Lea. Considering the crowd she hung around it wouldn’t be hard. “Why- fuck- what are you?” Kevin bumped against him, slurring his insults together in a string of unintelligible babbling as he continued to dance against the music. “Enlightening.” AJ smiled towards him, ignoring him to look at Lea. “Someone spiked the punch. Your brother is drunk and we need to go.” This time, Kevin’s hand found AJ’s shoulder and pushed against it hard. “Get the hell away from her you freak. She’s my date not yours.” At least this time he was able to find his words. AJ just rolled his eyes and continued to ignore him. “I get that you’re busy with Prince Charming over here, but I’m taking your brother home. I don’t really give a damn whether or not you come along honestly.” Kevin was getting annoyed, either by the fact that AJ continued to ignore him or that he continued to talk to Lea. If he started throwing punches, they would both get in trouble.

Lea had hardly kept her eyes off of AJ when he'd approached Dustin. Kevin's arm was still around her, and he was undoubtedly drunk at this point, which meant that she was supporting a good deal of his weight - which was a bit tough when he had to be at least a good seventy pounds heavier than she was - at a minimum - there was likely more of a difference. AJ left Dustin, but before Lea even had the time to breath in a sigh of relief he was over by her and Kevin. "No - it's -" She turned to face Kevin, pushing a hand against his chest. "It's fine." She said, raising an eyebrow. "Dustin's gonna get in big trouble and I probably need to go with him." Kevin cut her off before she could finish, looking right at AJ. "Don't think this is some way to get her to you, she came here with me. Me!" He said, his voice rising too loud. Lea rolled her eyes. "Yes, and AJ's not flirting with me, holy shit, it's fine. Forget about him. I have to deal with my idiot of a brother so he doesn't get the both of us in trouble. Tell Amanda that to text me when you all Uber home or whatever, and Jenna and Katie and I can come hang out tomorrow. Okay?" Lea wasn't sure how much Kevin was even comprehending but she took his small nod as an OK to go, and turned, stalking past AJ. "Fine, we can go now." She said without even looking at him, her eyes narrowing.

Everything was spinning a bit now, especially when Dustin pulled away from him. Quinn stumbled a bit when he was let go and looked for something to hold onto, managing to grab a chair to steady himself. At least he wasn't on the floor like Blanche and his boyfriend. Which, when it happened, he burst into a fit of giggles, glancing at AJ. "I'm smarter than you, and not on the floor," he stood, taking a few steps closer. He had to take a deep breath to steady himself. He pouted slightly. "You also have a boyfriend," he pointed to himself and then glanced at AJ. He tried to focus on him, but it was a little harder than he figured it would be. He was able to absorb most of the information though. "Oh... shit...," Quinn mumbled, glancing around to see the administration definitely was doing that. There was no way he wasn't going to graduate with the rest of the class because someone spiked something and got them drunk. "C'mon Dustin," he said, reaching out to grab his boyfriend's hand and try to pull him up. Blanche was definitely drunker than Dustin, so it would be better to get a little help.

Dustin frowned as he was trying to piece together Blanche's word, trying to give them some meaning. Job interview? It made literally no sense. "You make no sense," he told her, shaking his head. "I think you might be drunk, Blanche." When Quinn reached for his hand, Dustin tried to entwine their fingers instead of letting himself be pulled up properly, but after some moments he finally got to his feet. Everything was swaying a little, like they had turned the gym into a very slow ship on the sea. Out of the corner of his eye, he could see a few lights flickering and then exploding. Was this part of the prom theme? It truly was enchanted. Dustin wrapped his arms around Quinn to keep himself steady, hugging him tightly. "I don't wanna go home," he protested. "You promised me to make out in the bathroom. I wanna do that now. And I can't leave Lea, so. We have to sleep here."

Blanche blinked, and then her keys were gone!! Her eyes went wide as she started too look for them-- had she dropped them?? She stumbled, looking around. "Magic!!!" She cried. "Is my car gone too?? I need that I have a joooob!" Blanche said, upset. But she looked to Dustin and Quinn, frowning. "Ewww! I don't wanna sleep on the dirty school floor that's gross!!" Blanche's bottom lip jutted out, and she could hear her grandmother practically yelling in exasperation. 'Blanche Harlow!! You get your butt home this instant! Head towards the entrance like that boy told you too! "Head where??" Blanche asked, seemingly talking to thin air beside her, confused. "Oh-- hey look!! I see Lea!! And PJ! I mean BJ! Uh--- AJ!!!!" Blanche said, loudly. She turned to Dustin excitedly, reaching to pull at his sleeve, almost tumbling into him. "This way this way this way!!" Blanche tugged lightly, stumbling backwards. "Let's go thissssssssssssssssssss waaaaaaaaaaaaay!"

AJ could feel the hatred from Lea as he lead her through the crowd and towards the exit, but he was too annoyed with himself for getting involved too really care at the moment. He could have been home already and away from all of the obnoxious kids that he loathed so much. Instead, he had willingly wandered into enemy territory probably giving Kevin a new reason to make AJ’s life hell on Monday just because he was feeling generous that evening? Maybe because he thought he owed Dustin a favor after the whole pig blood incident and he hated owing people favors. Or he realized that Quinn probably had not deserved the backlash from AJ for trying to talk. Regardless, he was quickly running out of patience. “Look, I get it, you don’t like me. Join the club, good luck finding an empty chair. But your brother has made it very clear that if the two of you get in trouble your mom will put a literal hex on him. So pick up the pace and drop the attitude for the next hour so I can get you home.” He found the three of them, making small but noticeable progress towards the exit when the lights above them started flickering and then shattering. Gasps let out across the crowd. That obviously had nothing to do with the spiked juice. “Look, Dustin I got Lea. Hooray. Now can we please get the hell out of here?” The lights had actually provided a pretty good distraction from administration so that the five could sneak out mostly unnoticed.

Lea stiffened at AJ's comment. "Dustin said what?!" She half squeaked, before glaring in front of her and stomping across the floor, towards her brother though with at least a bit of distance between herself and AJ. She turned her head back to face him briefly, "No, I don't, and I was also having a good time with my friends - so don't you dare touch me." She scoffed. "I don't have an attitude, but thanks a lot for your advice." Once they arrived, some of the lights seemed to shatter and Lea jumped again. "Yeah, big brother, I'm here and alive, so let's go so mum doesn't kill us both, right?" She snuck a small glance back over to where Kevin and Amanda and the others were - and frowned slightly, giving a quick wave to Amanda when she looked over. "How are we getting home?"

"Blanche is definitely drunk," Quinn giggled, watching with a smirk. "Like, the most drunk I've seen anyone," he said. "She's drunk, of course she doesn't make sense," Quinn added, because an interview? That was weird. Quinn leaned in against Dustin as he was pulled into him, before grinning up at him and kissing his cheek. "Okay, yeah, making out sounds really good right now," he said, wrapping his own arms around Dustin's neck, pulling himself closer. "We could make out now. But I'm- I'm not gonna sleep on the floor," he wrinkled his nose, " 'specially not in this suit." Shaking his head he grinned. "Just come back and stay at my place. Then we can cuddle and make out all night," he continued, though was soon interrupted by Blanche. "Okay, okay!" he laughed, letting Blanche pull them along slightly. Just then both AJ and Lea returned "Hi Lea. You look particularly angry and should be happy becaues it's prom," he said with a nod.

"Yeah, definitely haven't seen drunker," Dustin agreed. He wasn't sure why they were following the drunk girl, but maybe it wasn't the worst idea. Drunk people could be fun. Or so he'd heard. He actually hadn't had too much contact with drunk people before. Of course, she was drunk and he was sober, which he thought should make this a little awkward, but no. He was actually having fun. Dustin was testing out whether he could kiss Quinn's neck at the same time as walking - that was a maybe, did end up walking into a table, but other than that he was unharmed - when he suddenly heard him mention his sister's name. "Lea!" Dustin exclaimed, turning around to position his body in her direction. "This decoration is amazing! Also, I don't know where we are going, but Blanche is drunk, apparently, so she's probably gonna lead us somewhere fun," he told her, before staggering forward and wrapping his arms around her neck, engulfing her into an octopus-like hug.

The lights started to pop and explode, and Blanche's gaze went upward. 'Hunny, you have to ignore them and let AJ take you home-' Blanche ignored Granny for the upteenth time, seeing the angry ghosts in prom clothes with Logan flittering about. They had paused while Dustin death hugged Lea, but she was distracted watching them yell angry things-- things about disrespect and how unfair this was. Lights wre popping and shattering, and if they weren't careful, and the speakers were now playing ugly music. Blanche's eyes didn't leave the the angry ghosts, and suddenly, she felt fear strike her. 'Blanche?' "I wanna go home!" Blanche announced, loudly, panickedly ripping her gaze from the ghosts and looking towards the others. "Before they get more mad!" They could have meant the administration-- at least, that's what her Granny would try to assure her. But Blanche suddenly charged ahead towards the entrance, stumbling on her feet all the way-- it looked like she was going to fall any moment. "Let's go home! I wanna go home! Hoooome! Dustin! Quinn! Leaaaaa! AJ c'mon!" Blanche was trying to take charge and she had absolutely no idea where she was going.

AJ let out an exasperated sigh and rubbed at his temples. All he had to do was get them all home. All he had to do was make it through Lea’s attitude, Blanche randomly screaming directly into his ear about conversations held ten minutes prior, and the very real possibility that Quinn and Dustin were going to do it in his truck. That wasn’t so bad right? He was suddenly reminded why he spent the last two years with no friends. Not that that had been by choice or anything, but the peace and quiet had definitely been a plus. “My truck” he replied to Lea, since everyone else seemed to incapacitated or occupied to speak up. Blanche started rushing out the door and another groan escaped AJ as he started pushing the other three forward again, “We need to go before Blanche runs out into traffic.” The sooner he stuffed them all into his truck and finally got them home, the sooner he could get back to being the friendless loner that had saved him from so many migraines.

[kirishwima]

Get to know me tag!

Tagged by @teakoii​

1. What is your full name? Don’t really want to give out my full name on tumblr lol, but I’m Sophia (and if we’re going for embarrassing details, I got a middle name, Marina lol)

2. What is your nickname? A lot of people call me babushka? Or just shortened versions of my name like Soph and stuff 

3. What is your zodiac sign?   Cancer 

4. What is your favorite book series?  Hmmm this is hard lol. The only series I can honestly admit to have read entirely is the Hunger Games :p

5. Do you believe in aliens or ghosts?

Aliens are 10010% real and probably want nothing to do with earth, LOL. Ghosts...it’d be so cool if they’re real. Highly doubt it though

6. Who is your favorite author? Neil Gaiman!! He’s amazing!

7. What is your favorite radio station?  Mix fm...any cypriot reading this will know lol

8. What is your favorite flavor of anything?  Of anything...probably coffee taste lol. Or mint? One of the two

9. What word would you use often to describe something great or wonderful? Hmm, amazing? Awesome? idk lol

10. What is your current favorite song?  Current favourite is probably Andromeda by the Gorillaz :p 

11. What is your favorite word?  in english?? no clue hahah :p 

12. What was the last song you listened to?  Despacito ;u; 

13. What TV show would you recommend for everybody to watch?  Voltron obviously hahah, um, maybe American Horror story? But only season 2 lol, or Black Mirror bc it’s amAZING

14. What is your favorite movie to watch when you’re feeling down?  Ghibli films! Especially Howl’s moving castle or Spirited Away! c:

15. Do you play video games?  I do but not as much lately bc of uni

16. What is your biggest fear?  Uhhh if we’re going for deep dark fears, probably the entire concept of eternity? Like the thought of something having no real start or end just freaks me out lol

17. What is your best quality, in your opinion?  I honestly can’t think of one hahah, i’ve been thinking for a couple of minutes and can’t think of anything :p maybe that i’m an easy person to get along with

18. What is your worst quality, in your opinion?  I can make a list tbh lol, absolute worst would probably be that i’m way too sensitive & care too much about what other people think

19. Do you like cats or dogs better?  NO DON’T MAKE ME CHOOSE I LOVE THEM BOTH I LOVE ALL ANIMALS ;-;

20. What is your favorite season?  Summer!! :D 

21. Are you in a relationship?  Nope

22. What is something you miss from your childhood?  I don’t miss much. Maybe not having this much of a workload if anything lol

23. Who is your best friend?  Why have one when you can have 3? :D @faded-r0ses @now-this-is-wtf @ibreathestucky <3 <3

24. What is your eye color?  Brow

25. What is your hair color?  I change it every few months lol, it’s currently black!

26. Who is someone you love?  So many people :p Friends, family, a lot of people! c:

27. Who is someone you trust?  The squad obviously, but p. much all of my friends?? Like if we’re buddies then that’s it, i trust u lol

28. Who is someone you think about often?  Like i think about my dog a lot bc i haven’t seen his fluffiness in like four moths now but i think about a lot of people often? not one set person 

29. Are you currently excited about/for something?  I’m excited for an eternal slumber tbh, or like, vacation. I need a break TuT

30. What is your biggest obsession?  Voltron probably, and also random but history?? i love. history lol

31. What was your favorite TV show as a child?  POKEMON! It was a Sunday morning ritual to watch pokemon :D

32. Who of the opposite gender can you tell anything to, if anyone?  Anything? Probably no one :p

33. Are you superstitious?  Not really? 

34. Do you have any unusual phobias?  Like, I’m afraid of small white rooms with no windows. Random? Yes. Unusual? Idk?? :p 

35. Do you prefer to be in front of the camera or behind it? I’m insecure af but like photography so behind it lol

36. What is your favorite hobby?  Writing! :D 

37. What was the last book you read?  I mean i read a shitton of anatomy and physiology books throughout this year, do those count? Ah and The anatomy of being by Shinj Moon, though it’s a poetry book

38. What was the last movie you watched? Avengers Age of Ultron probably

39. What musical instruments do you play, if any? Nothing, sadly TuT

40. What is your favorite animal? 

I can’t. ChoOOSEE I LOVE SO MANY. If i can have like a top 3?? It’d probably be dogs & cats (in one place bc i can’t choose), foxes, and lizards? or i think they’re called newts in english? ya. 

41. What are your top 5 favorite Tumblr blogs that you follow? 

Definitely @teakoii they’re they’re the literal cutest & amazing artist, definitely 2/3 the squad: @ibreathestucky (she’s a fandom goddess ok <3), @faded-r0ses (aesthetic ho right there), (((our remaining 1/3 @now-this-is-wtf not included bc she nEVER LOGS IN)) Also @wipengineer <-the queen of angst 

and @maristine :D Quality voltron content right there~ 

and also a LOT of other blogs, some that i interact with and some not but i’m too shy to mention/tag  >.< 

42. What superpower do you wish you had? 

Being able to breathe/survive underwater. Bye bye humans. I’m a fish now. You’ll never catch me. Also shapeshifting would b awesome bc. Cmon. You could become a dragon. Take that responsibilities. 

43. When and where do you feel most at peace?

The beach, definitely. Or anywhere near large bodies of water? Give me a lake or river any day and I’ll probably never leave lol

44. What makes you smile? 

A good ol’ meme never failed me so far, also good music? And coffee, and cuddly animals or just hugs in general i love hugs

45. What sports do you play, if any? 

I do some swimming and begrudgingly go to the gym when my roommate drags me along but that’s pretty much it lol

46. What is your favorite drink?

CoFFEE. I swear my blood has been replaced with caffeine by now

47. When was the last time you wrote a hand-written letter or note to somebody?

I wrote a post-it note to my roommate to let her know i’m out does that count? 

48. Are you afraid of heights? 

Nope! I love looking down when standing somewhere v high or in a plane and stuff lol

49. What is your biggest pet peeve? 

I had to google what a pet peeve is TuT

Hm, i can’t really think of anything? Not a lot of things bug me tbh, except for big things like you know, like rudeness or belittling someone else e.t.c

50. Have you ever been to a concert? 

Yup!

51. Are you vegan/vegetarian? 

Vegetarian!^^

52. When you were little, what did you want to be when you grew up? 

Define how little. I had a big phase of wanting to become a Power Ranger so.

According to my family i was always between vet or doctor though lol

53. What fictional world would you like to live in? 

Ohh boy, i can’t just choose one!! :p Something magic-related definitely

54. What is something you worry about? 

Something? Something? More like everything. TuT

55. Are you scared of the dark? 

Nope!

56. Do you like to sing? 

No unless I'm either drunk enough or blasting the radio loud enough for no one to hear me hahah

57. Have you ever skipped school? 

I was way too much of an ‘example student’ in high school so no lol. As for lectures in uni though..well. ;u;

58. What is your favorite place on the planet? 

The bEACH. ANY BEACH. IS THERE WATER AND SAND? THEN I LIKE IT. :D

59. Where would you like to live? 

Italy! My dream is to move to Italy after i graduate! 

60. Do you have any pets? 

Yes, a cute lil’ bean of a doggo~ (or as my friends very...politely say, the chubbiest, clingiest chihuahua they’ve ever met lol)

61. Are you more of an early bird or a night owl?

Both? It depends lol

62. Do you like sunrises or sunsets better?

BOTH I CAN’T CHOOSE TuT

63. Do you know how to drive? 

Yup! Although parking is an entire different story LOL

64. Do you prefer earbuds or headphones? 

Headphones, earbuds are annoying ;-;

65. Have you ever had braces? 

Yes. I pretend that that time period never happened ;u;

66. What is your favorite genre of music? 

Hmmmmmm. Hmmm??? I can’t choose? Probably either indie/chill music or punk rock but i listen to so so many genres

67. Who is your hero? 

I can’t really think of any celebrities, but if we’re talking people, probably my grandma? She was a badass woman that was raising two kids in her twenties whilst studying & graduating med school, then moved on to become the first woman gynaecologist in her country. Hats off to her really.

68. Do you read comic books?

A bit! 

69. What makes you the most angry? 

Honestly people that just. Can’t. Respect. Others.

So racist/homophobic/transphobic/sexist people, people who can’t respect someone else, people that think they’re superior to anyone, and also people that hurt/abuse animals- it’s like hey buddy. Find the nearest trash can and shove yourself in it, it’s not nice to litter.

70. Do you prefer to read on an electronic device or with a real book? 

Real books. I understand that electronics are more convenient but there’s nothing better than actually holding a book in your hands and flipping the pages ;u;

71. What is your favorite subject in school? 

History and english lit! And greek literature! All theoretical subjects really, lol

If we’re talking currently, then it’s embryology, definitely. I love it!!

72. Do you have any siblings? 

An older sister and two older brothers 

73. What was the last thing you bought? 

Bananas and vegetables, lol

74. How tall are you?

165cm. I think it’s 5′5″

75. Can you cook? 

I mean i nearly burn the kitchen down every time but i try

76. What are three things that you love? 

Animals, good books, coffee

77. What are three things that you hate? 

Rude/mean people (aka every single person with a Trump-like mindset, the dude himself included ofc), that’s pretty much it? it takes a lot for me to hate something 

78. Do you have more female friends or more male friends? 

Female

79. What is your sexual orientation? 

Pan! Still figuring out if that’s Panromantic or Pansexual :p 

80. Where do you currently live? 

Czech Republic

81. Who was the last person you texted? 

My roommate

82. When was the last time you cried? 

Like, 2 days ago i think? I was stressed, tired and sick lol

83. Who is your favorite YouTuber? 

Markiplier! Also a lot of creepy pasta narrators, Lazy Masquerade being my fave probably :p

84. Do you like to take selfies? 

Sometimes? it really really depends on my mood lol

85. What is your favorite app? 

Instagram probably

86. What is your relationship with your parent(s) like?

Ehh. I get along great with my dad although we don’t talk much, and i get along as well with my mom, just wish she’d realise i’m not a kid still lol. 

The older i get the better we get along i guess, although there’s some things we’ll never agree on

87. What is your favorite foreign accent? 

I like Spanish accents a lot? I have a lot of Spanish & Portuguese friends and love their accent when they speak english :p Also Russian accents?? Don’t ask me why. I just really like them lol

88. What is a place that you’ve never been to, but you want to visit? 

Japan! I really want to go to Japan. And USA? And Canada? Like, big-city places because I’ve never been to one ;u;

89. What is your favorite number? 

2

90. Can you juggle? 

I got the balance of a tomato on an acid trip, so that’s a no hahah

91. Are you religious? 

Not...really? I was raised in a very religious house and the more i learned about church the more i disliked it. I still like some aspects of it though so...I’m figuring it out still

92. Do you find outer space of the deep ocean to be more interesting? 

I CAN’T CHOOSE THEY’RE BOTH SO FASCINATING I WANNA FLING MYSELF INTO SPACE AND DISCOVER THE SECRETS OF THE OCEAN IS THAT TOO MUCH TO ASK

93. Do you consider yourself to be a daredevil? 

With enough alcohol in my system and good friends, ya. As it is? Nope, I'm that one friend in horror movies that says ‘hey guys, this is probably a bad idea’ and promptly dies lol

94. Are you allergic to anything? 

A bit allergic to dust but that’s pretty much it i think

95. Can you curl your tongue? 

No ;-;

96. Can you wiggle your ears? 

How do people dO THAT no i can’t

97. How often do you admit that you were wrong about something?

If i know I'm in the wrong i always admit it & apologise, or so i hope :p

98. Do you prefer the forest or the beach?

The forest is fun too but...the beach. Definitely. ((Plus there’s no bugs at the beach! ;u;))

99. What is your favorite piece of advice that anyone has ever given you? 

If you try your best and work hard, the result won't matter because you gave it your all and that’s what counts.

100. Are you a good liar?

Not at all, you can immediately tell if I’m lying because I start to giggle lol

101. What is your Hogwarts House? 

Hufflepuff! 

102. Do you talk to yourself? 

Yes. It’s actually funny bc i keep switching between languages when i do

103. Are you an introvert or an extrovert?  

Introvert ;;

104. Do you keep a journal/diary? 

Not exactly. I try to keep a journal but it usually ends up with doodles and scribbles from class lol

105. Do you believe in second chances? 

Most of the time, yes.

106. If you found a wallet full of money on the ground, what would you do? 

Honestly? I’d probably leave it, OR if there’s any shops nearby, I’d take it to a store clerk, since the person that lost it is more likely to go into a nearby shop and ask if they’ve seen their wallet than to a police department, I think? idk

107. Do you believe that people are capable of change? 

Yes, definitely!

108. Are you ticklish? 

Ridiculously ticklish. @now-this-is-wtf  and @faded-r0ses have a field trip with this fact T-T

109. Have you ever been on a plane? 

Yup!

110. Do you have any piercings? 

I got a lot of piercings on my ears and had nose ring but I think it’s healed now? Will be getting a septum piercing in July though~

111. What fictional character do you wish was real? 

Lance. Lanceeeeeee. How could i not want my fave ever to be real lol

112. Do you have any tattoos? Not...yet. Soon though!

113. What is the best decision that you’ve made in your life so far? 

It wasn’t exactly my decision, but switching schools back in middle school. Would have never met my tiny best friend otherwise, or met some other amazing people & teachers

114. Do you believe in karma?

Not really

115. Do you wear glasses or contacts? 

Glasses, can’t put on contacts to save my life

116. Do you want children? 

I don’t really like kids so. Ehh.

117. Who is the smartest person you know? 

Hmm, people are smart in different ways and aspects. So I don’t know one person who’s the absolute smartest!

118. What is your most embarrassing memory? 

Probably that one time at Comic con when i had a skirt-too-short problem (bless my backpack and the random leggings i had shoved in there for some reason lol), or that one time i got asked for an ID when i tried to buy a beer. At a supermarket. And they still wouldn’t believe me until I showed them my university card as well. (Sad thing is it wasn’t even for me lol)

119. Have you ever pulled an all-nighter? 

yup, way too often lol

120. What color are most of you clothes? 

Black. So many black clothes lol. At least that makes laundry much easier :D

121. Do you like adventures? 

Yes! 

122. Have you ever been on TV? 

Only for some small interview clips when I was in high school lol

123. How old are you? 

19

124. What is your favorite quote? 

“Sometimes, I can hear my bones straining under the weight of all the lives I’m not living” 

125. Do you prefer sweet or savory foods? 

I don’t like sweet stuff much so savoury! OK, NOW, WHO TO TAG~

Squad, do it if you’re up for it @ibreathestucky @faded-r0ses @now-this-is-wtf (esp. you Guac I know you’re a free potato now with exams over~), and my tumblr buddies @maristine, @wipengineer (and yes i know u got the google doc but hey! :D), @the-blood-in-your-bruise and honestly, whoever else wants to do it, that’s it, you’re tagged by me hahah ^^

[datingadviceonreddit]

She responds to my messages quickly but shortly and asked two questions over the course of five days since we started texting. I don't want to quote the whole conversation but she jokingly (I'm not sure about that) described herself as malicious, self-ironic and a born misanthrope. She said she wanted to describe herself as unattractive as possible and told me she had a chronicle depressive phase. I told her she's very attractive (she's hot) but she doesn't think so herself, only in rare moments.When I asked her what she's looking for on Tinder, she said she honestly doesn't remember. Things went a little downhill because I literally (translated though) asked "Hm, I'll rephrase it then: What do you want from me?" I just wanted to figure out if she's actually interested in me because she barely asked me any questions and basically gave me the feeling that she doesn't want to know me. She then told me that she always gets so many messages and eventually doesn't put any effort in her messages.So what to think about her? I like her but I don't know where this is going and I can't tell whether her low self esteem is genuine or not. Edit: She's in her early 20's via /r/dating_advice

[jamieclawhorn]

Top stocks for October

We asked our writers to share their top stock picks for the month of October, and this is what they had to say:

Harvey Jones: Babcock International

The last year has been tough on engineering support services company Babcock International (LSE: BAB), its share price down more than 20% in that time. However, September’s trading update promises a brighter future.

Babcock provides outsourcing to private sector and government customers across the US, Europe and Africa, and continues to expand, with recent contract wins in Norway, France and South Korea. 

It is also busy in the domestic UK defence sector, where it has close links to the Royal Navy. The firm was recently appointed technical authority and support partner for the Royal Navy’s new aircraft carriers, HMS Queen Elizabeth and HMS Prince of Wales, as well as its Type 45 destroyers.

Future earnings visibility looks good. Babcock boasts a £19 billion order book with 89% of revenue in place for 2017/18 and 57% for 2018/19. Trading at just 10.61 times earnings and yielding 3.34%, today looks like a buying opportunity.

Harvey Jones has no position in Babcock International.

Edward Sheldon: Babcock International

Engineering services company Babcock International (LSE: BAB) released a trading update in September, advising that its order book and bid pipeline of opportunities had remained stable, and that 89% of revenue was now in place for 2017/18. The market was impressed with the news, with the shares rising over 5%. However, after falling from 1,300p to 840p over the last three years, Babcock shares remains well off their highs.

The company is forecast to generate 16% sales growth this year, and with a prospective dividend yield of 3.5% on offer, and a forward looking P/E ratio of just 10.1, this Neil Woodford-owned FTSE 100 stock looks good value to me.

Edward Sheldon has no position in Babcock International

G A Chester: Entertainment One   Media group Entertainment One (LSE: ETO) released an in-line trading update this week. It also reported a $0.2bn uplift in the value of its content library to $1.7bn (£1.3bn).   There’s a lot more to the group than its library, yet the enterprise value of the company at a share price of 255p is £1.4bn (£1.1bn market cap + £0.3bn net debt). It also trades at a discount to peers on earnings and the shares are only 8% above a 236p takeover approach from ITV last year, which the board said “fundamentally undervalues” the company. As such, the stock remains a ‘buy’ in my book.   G A Chester has no position in Entertainment One or ITV.

Rupert Hargreaves: Genel Energy

After languishing during the first half of the year, shares in Genel Energy (LSE: GENL) have woken up during the past few weeks and have now risen 90% year-to-date. I believe that there could be further gains on the cards.

Over the past two years, Genel has consolidated its position, cut costs and slashed capital spending to preserve its balance sheet. Now oil prices are rising again, profits are flowing. During the first half, the firm reported operating profit growth of 274% year-on-year. Cash generated from operations increased to $114m from $80m, and net debt fell 34%.

The average price received for the company’s oil during the first six months of the year was between $44 per barrel, and current oil prices indicate that the firm’s positive first-half performance has continued, which should support further share price gains.

Rupert does not own shares in Genel.

Royston Wild: Greggs

  I reckon that Greggs’ (LSE: GRG) next trading update (scheduled for 3 October) should add extra fuel to the company’s impressive share price ascent — the baking behemoth has seen its market value swell by more than a quarter during the course of 2017.

  The Newcastle-based company saw like-for-like revenues boom 3.4% in the six months to June, as demand for its coffee, breakfast items and ‘Balanced Choice’ calorie-conscious ranges continued to rise. And with Greggs’ store expansion scheme continuing, and the firm about to embark on home delivery and extend its recent move into drive-thrus, I expect sales to keep moving higher.

  City analysts are expecting earnings at the firm to rise 1% and 7% in 2017 and 2018 respectively. I reckon a forward P/E ratio of 19.4 times is reasonable given Greggs’ impressive top-line momentum.

  Royston Wild does not own shares in Greggs.

Roland Head: IG Group Holdings

Spread betting and CFD provider IG Group Holdings (LSE: IGG) was hit hard in December by news that the UK regulator plans to limit the amount of leverage available to retail investors.

But IG’s customer base includes a relatively high proportion of high-value expert investors, whose trading isn’t likely to be affected by the new rules. I expect the changes — when they happen — to have less impact on IG than most rivals.

The shares have risen by 34% in 2017, but are still 20% below last year’s highs. Trading on 14 times forecast earnings and with a 5% yield, the stock looks worth buying to me.

Roland Head does not own shares of IG Group Holdings.

Bilaal Mohamed: JD Sports

  My top stock for October is leading sportswear and fashion retailer, JD Sports Fashion (LSE: JD). The Lancashire-based group earlier this month reported another exceptional set of results for the half year, with pre-tax profits increasing by a further 33% to a new record of £102.7m.

  The FTSE 250 group now boasts more than 1,200 stores worldwide and is continuing to make significant investments in logistics to support the ongoing substantial growth in stores and e-commerce across all its businesses. 

  JD’s shares have recently pulled back from May’s all-time highs, and are now trading on a very reasonable price-to-earnings multiple of 17 for the current fiscal year to January. I reckon this could be a great time for new investors to jump in.

  Bilaal has no position in JD Sport.

Paul Summers: Motif Bio

Risk-tolerant investors might want to look at £91m cap Motif Bio (LSE: MTFB) — a potentially great play on the need for new antibiotics to tackle so-called “super-bugs”.

Somewhat ironically for a stock not suited to widows and orphans, the company recently announced that its main product, Iclaprim, had been granted Orphan Drug Designation by the FDA for treating lung infections in patients with cystic fibrosis. This comes before hotly anticipated Q4 news on the outcome of the second of two Phase 3 trials (REVIVE-2). Given the huge success of the first trial, I think holders could be handsomely rewarded over time if/when the antibiotic is approved and commercialised, particularly as Motif’s established peers already attract significantly higher valuations.

Paul Summers owns shares in Motif Bio.

Jack Tang: Redrow

While Redrow (LSE: RDW) is often overlooked when investors think of housebuilders, the stock’s post-referendum share price performance should command investors’ attention.

Redrow shares are now worth 35% more than since the Brexit vote — a significantly bigger gain than those of its larger rivals. And that’s despite news that its chairman and founder Steve Morgan recently sold a 7% stake in the company, which sent shares down almost 10% since 11 September.

I reckon the recent sell-off may present a buying opportunity for long-term investors. Redrow still has a robust land bank and an improving pipeline of new developments. Moreover, the sector remains supported by the chronic undersupply of new housing, low borrowing costs and the government’s Help to Buy scheme.

Jack does not own shares in Redrow.

Peter Stephens: Royal Dutch Shell

The oil price recently hit a two-year high and this could be good news for the profitability of oil and gas stocks such as Shell (LSE: RDSB). The company’s acquisition of BG has provided it with a greater focus on LNG, while it is seeking to create a simpler business which is more focused on resilient positions within advantaged projects.

The resetting of cost and capital spending has strengthened the company’s financial prospects. Its 6.4% dividend yield is due to be covered by earnings next year, while a price-to-earnings growth (PEG) ratio of 1.3 suggests it trades at a discount to its intrinsic value.

Peter Stephens owns shares in Shell.

Ian Pierce: Safestyle

The stock I have my eye on this month is replacement window and door manufacturer Safestyle UK  (LSE: SFE). The company has been knocked by two profit warnings in recent months due to an industry-wide slowdown in orders, but I believe over the long-term the company is still an attractive one.

The recent sector downturn presents an opportunity for the company to consolidate its highly fractured market due to above-average margins and a balance sheet with oodles of cash. With its shares now yielding 5.5% and trading at less than 13 times forward earnings, now could be a great time to consider Safestyle.   

Ian Pierce has no position in Safestyle UK.

Kevin Godbold: Wizz Air

FTSE 250 listed Wizz Air Holdings (LSE: WIZZ) is trading well. City analysts expect earnings to fly 24% higher for the year to March 2018 and 17% the year after that.

The firm is a low-cost airline active in Central and Eastern Europe and operates a fleet of 84 Airbus A320 and A321 aircraft. Along with earnings, the share price has been soaring, up around 117% since early 2015. But the valuation remains grounded with the forward price-to-earnings ratio cruising near 12.

Interim results are due on 9 November and I’m expecting more good news. October could see the stock climb in anticipation.

Kevin Godbold owns shares in Wizz Air Holdings.

More reading

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Why I bought this beaten-up growth stock instead of Reckitt Benckiser Group plc

Royal Dutch Shell plc isn’t the only stock expected to deliver blockbuster dividend growth

2 bargain growth stocks that could make you a millionaire

2 dividend stocks that could make you a million

The Motley Fool UK has recommended ITV, Redrow, Royal Dutch Shell B, and Safestyle UK. Views expressed on the companies mentioned in this article are those of the writer and therefore may differ from the official recommendations we make in our subscription services such as Share Advisor, Hidden Winners and Pro. Here at The Motley Fool we believe that considering a diverse range of insights makes us better investors.

[russianwinterart-blog]

Wyn-Tyr’s War

Here is a screen play that I wrote for a story I made. Its by no means professional but I wanted to give it a try.

Cast of Characters

 Wyntyr:             Rightful heir to the throne; Young woman with emerald green eyes. Been with Unn her whole life. 5’5” Approximately in her 20’s.

 Unn:                Necromancer; Slaughtered Wyntyr’s family for the next family. Very old; appears as a beautiful young woman who turns into a monster clad in white.

Hyrum:              Eldest son to the new family. Prone to night terrors. Insomniac. Amber eyes, white hair, 6’2”. Late 20’s early 30’s.

 Zehel:              Middle child of the new family. Sickly and in chronic pain. Possible pleasure addict. Cool teal/green eyes. Short teal eyes. 6’. Mid 20’s to late 20’s.

 Cael:               Youngest child of the new family. Malicious Sociopath. Dark garnet red eyes. Chromatic black hair that has a slight red tint to it. 5’9”. Early 20’s to mid 20’s.

 SCENE

Various locations around the land.

 TIME

Medieval fantasy world. Think 1350’s-1400’s.

ACT I

Scene 1

SETTING:                 The royal family is fleeing in fear for their safety. Becoming vastly unpopular with their people. The day is cloudy and cold. The road is muddy and it is eerily quiet. The caravan of royal carriages seemed to have stopped and the scene of a great slaughter has happened. The only person left alive is a small child. She is hysterical and begging a person clad in white.

AT RISE:            WYNTYR is begging on her knees to be killed. She grips the white robes of the other person.

 WYNTYR

PLEASE! Please just kill me too. I want to go with my mom and dad. Please don’t leave me all alone!

                   (Wyntyr lowers her head as tears pour down her face. She looks to her left to see her dead parents staring at her. This further upsets her.)

Please… Please…

                   (Her voice is weak and she begins to tremble. She burries her face into the cloak of the other person. Her voice becomes muffled as she continues to beg.)

 UNN

                   (Silent, UNN jerks away. UNN leaves the sobbing girl.)

WYNTYR

(WYNTYR chases after UNN. Sobbing and continuing to beg to go with UNN.)

Please don’t leave me alone! Just kill me!

 UNN

(Stops and stares at WYNTYR. A wicked grin cross’ UNN’sface, revealing rotten teeth and tongue made of leather. UNN speaks in a spiteful tone.)

No.

 WYNTYR

(Stunned by this, stares at UNN before coming to the resolve that she will have to live without her parents. She takes a deep breath.)

Fine.  It’ll be okay.

(WYNTYR smiles)

I’ll learn to live alone. Thank you.

 UNN

(Confusion crosses UNN’s face.  Before UNN reaches for WYNTYR and pulls WYNTYR close. UNN can see the new family’s imperial guard coming. UNN wraps WYNTYR in the white cloak and they both wonder off into the forest. UNN’s dead stare watches as the guard keep moving on. UNN’s voice is soft and UNN speaks softly.)

Come…Safe…Death

 WNYTYR

(Stares at UNN before nodding. WYNTYR Really cannot understand UNN’s way of speaking. Wyntyr is just happy not to be alone. Even if WYNTYR cannot die at least WYNTYR isn’t alone. WYNTYR smiles at UNN)

Yes.

(BLACKOUT)

(END OF SCENE)

ACT II

Scene 1

SETTING:            Inside the castle, in the room of CAEL. CAEL, HYRUM, and ZEHEL are gathered discussing the recent sightings of the former princess. CAEL is pacing around nervously. HYRUM is sitting in a chair across a table from ZEHEL. Both, HYRUM and ZEHEL are trying to calm their brother.

AT RISE:            HYRUM is standing. Trying to calm his brother. ZEHEL is looking rather tired but still tries to calm CAEL.

 HYRUM

(To CAEL)

Ah, C’mon! She’s dead. Y’got nothing to worry about. Besides, Wots one lil girl gonna do? She’s got no claim.

(He chuckles and places a hand on CAEL’s shoulder.)

 ZEHEL

(To CAEL)

Hyrum is right. You really have nothing to be concerned about. Even if she is alive, who would really believe her? The Necromancer delivered proof that her family was wiped out. So please, Cael just be calm.

 CAEL

(To HYRUM and ZEHEL)

YOU don’t UNDERSTAND! IF she is still out there, she could possibly take the throne. Zehel, were you not old enough to remember what that vile woman wanted in exchange for that deed? Let’s see those SCARS that are on your back. HM?!

(CAEL looks to HYRUM with a disgusted look)

And you! I haven’t seen one night since then where your room was lit like noon. And what of those terrors that come to you at night? You two can’t possibly say that what our family agreed to has left us still the same.

(CAEL pulls away from his brother in disgust.)

I for one want to make sure she is certainly dead!

 HYRUM

(Nods in understanding but wanting to calm his brother brushes it off)

Look ‘ere Cael. If it makes you feel bet’r we can out an’ see for ourselves if she is out there. The last sighting was in wot? Tha next town?

 ZEHEL

Yes. The last supposed sighting was in the next town. She couldn’t have gotten far. So we can go check it out. If it’ll put your mind at ease.

 CAEL

(Very disgruntled but agrees to go anyway.)

(CAEL, ZEHEL, and HYRUM leave and set out for the next town over to see if the sightings of WYNTYR are true.)

(BLACKOUT)

(END SCENE)

ACT II

Scene 2

SETTING:            Next town. In the town square. Dusk.

AT RISE:            CAEL, HYRUM, and ZEHEL have finished searching for WYNTYR and are deciding if they should go home or stay and party.

 HYRUM

I say we go hit up the tavern! The ladies ‘ere are especially pretty.

(Motions towards a few behind him.)

 ZEHEL

(To HYRUM)

You just can’t control yourself can you? Anywhere we go, you let your testosterone control your thinking.

(Zehel groans and rubs his forehead.)

 HYRUM

(to ZEHEL)

At least I’m popular with the ladies! Unlike someone…

(A devilish grin spread and HYRUM chuckled.)

 ZEHEL

(Turned red and glared at HYRUM for his low blow to ZEHEL’s Ego.)

 CAEL

(To both HYRUM and ZEHEL)

I say we leave and keep looking for the girl and possibly that…Woman.

(CAEL spat the word ‘woman’ like it left a bad taste in his mouth.)

 HYRUM

(To CAEL)

Really? Now we have’t’stay.

 ZEHEL

(To CAEL)

Yes! Now we must!

 (ZEHEL and HYRUM grab CAEL by his shoulders and drag him off to the nearest tavern. Several hours go by and the three brothers emerge completely drunk.)

 HYRUM

(To ZEHEL)

Oy, Zel! What? What er yew doin?

 ZEHEL

(To HYRUM)

I’m just... I’m walkin.

 CAEL

CAEL (Cont.)

(To HYRUM and ZEHEL)

He’s being- He’s being a- Ahhh, I forgot. Zel! Hy! Help me. I can’t feel my legs!

(CAEL Falls to the ground laughing.)

(HYRUM and ZEHEL attempt to help their brother up but all three end up on the ground. Giggling.)

 WYNTYR

Oh? Might you three be the Princes?

(WYNTYR asks looking over the pile of men.)

 HYRUM

(To WYNTYR)

Yes, we are! Who might you be?

(HYRUM stood, albeit drunk. HYRUM moves in very close to WYNTYR)

HYRUM (cont.)

Y’got pretty eyes~.

 WYNTYR

(To HYRUM)

No one. I don’t have a name.

(WYNTYR has a playful and flirty tone to her voice. WYNTYR is un-phased by the extreme closeness of HYRUM.)

 ZEHEL

(To WYNTYR)

What?! A beautiful girl like you doesn’t have a name?!

(ZEHEL stumbled up trying to be smooth but failing. ZEHEL gently began to touch WYNTYR’s hair)

Such an unusual color for hair!  

 WYNTYR

(To ZEHEL)

Uh, yeah! I don’t have a name! Please…don’t touch my hair.

(WYNTYR pulls away from ZEHEL clearly becoming bothered by the hair touching.)

 CAEL

(To ZEHEL and WYNTYR)

HAHA! EVEN THIS GIRL IS WEIRDED OUT BY YOU!!! HAHAHA! Come now, you must have a name~? If you want, you can tell mee~.

(CAEL doesn’t bother getting up instead rolls to her feet and stares up at WYNTYR.)

 WYNTYR

(To all three)

Well…I don’t think she will let me say my name.

(WYNTYR points to UNN.)

 (UNN is standing behind the three men staring at them. A strange smile plasters across the once beautiful face UNN had.)

 (HYRUM, ZEHEL, and CAEL all turn to look where WYNTYR was pointing to. All the drunken color drained from their faces as they watch the beautiful face of UNN turn nightmarish.)

UNN

(To HYRUM, ZEHEL, and CAEL)

Give what is owed to… Me

(UNN’s voice is murderous, angry. UNN’s gaze moves from each one to finally gaze at WYNTYR.)

WHERE IS IT?

 CAEL

(To UNN)

Where? Where is what?

(CAEL’s voice is calm but clearly terrified.)

 UNN

(UNN moved to look at CAEL.)

My-

(UNN is cut off by WYNTYR)

 WYNTER

THAT’S ENOUGH! You will get what is owed to you, just like I will get what is mine. Now…

(WYNTYR smiles to the three scared drunk men.)

You three are going to help me. You see, Your family stole something very important to me and my friend here. We would like it back.

(WYNTYR and UNN have wicked smiles.)

(UNN moves her hand in the air, making a pattern and soon HYRUM, ZEHEL, and CAEL can see the world growing black but all they can stare at are UNN’s dead yellow eyes. Then all three pass out.)

(BLACKOUT)

(END OF SCENE.)