#I will record each of these text messages. Analyze the reasons (????) | Explore Tumblr posts and blogs

otaku0411 · 7 months ago

Text

A GLASS OF WHISKEY PLEASE: Part Two

‼️Part one ‼️

It’s been 6 weeks since I met the famous Kenji Sato. After learning about him, I did a little research on him and apparently he is on more on the clock your side and he’s a little bit egotistical to say the least. Which honestly I don’t mind, I kinda like it when a guy is cocky and confident, especially when he know what to do, which he does show on the baseball field because based on his stats and record, he is one hell of a baseball player.

A week after our first encounter, he came and based on where my coworkers told me, he came to the bar every night to see me, but he will not see me back there until Wednesday night and that when I saw him his face lit up and he gave me his classic smile. He ordered his drink and we talked that day since it wasn’t busy.

I eventually gave him my phone number and we begin to text and call each other. We got to know each other more about our personal life and family. He tells me that he’s born in Japan, but his mom moved to but him and his mom moved to America when he was younger. I asked him why his dad didn’t come, he reply with business reasons I didn’t prey on it and we carry along the conversation to something else.

I can’t lie, I’m starting to have a crush on this man. Cause after all of his flirting and cocky persona, he’s genuinely and sweet and sincere man. And that’s kinda sexy!

It’s a Thursday night and it’s not really busy, so Kenji decided to come in and keep me company. “How’s my favorite baseball player?” I greet him as he’s taking a sit. “I’ve been doing great now that I saw you.” I chuckle “Well aren’t you a flirt.” He laughs a little, “No baby that just how I talk. But I can flirt with you if that makes you happy,” He smirks as he analyze me from top to bottom where I was standing “No thank you, but my eyes are up here sir.” He put his hands up in defense mode “My fault, love.” I roll my eyes playfully “Whatever, do you want your usual today?” “Why of course.”

After we’re bantering with each other for like 30 minutes, there’s a long pause between us. After what felt like an hour, Kenji finally speaks. “There’s also something I been meaning to ask you about.” “What is it?” I asked, wiping down the counter. “Would it be weird if I-” RINGG

His watch started to ring and he answered it before he could finish his sentence. “Hey, what is it?” His facial expression went from neutral to being worried. “Okay I’ll be there soon,” he hang up, looking more worried than before. He digs into his pockets and pulls out a fifty, “I’m so sorry, this is an emergency! I’ll text you later when I’m done!” And just like that, he was out the door.

For the rest of the shift, all I could think about was if he was okay and what was the call about. I eventually get home and check any notifications. *ZERO*

It’s okay Y/n, he’ll text you back when he gets a minute.

But that minute never came. Before you knew it, it has been two weeks since he abruptly left the bar that day. You couldn’t understand why he wasn’t responding. You even left a few messages after a couple of days hoping he’s okay. No response. After a week, you decided to not stress about it and just continue your daily life.

Saturday night rolls a round and as always, you were busy. Crowds decided to sit at the bar instead of waiting for a table and it left you drained. But you wasn’t completely mad about it since you made over your goal that night.

It’s 15 minutes before closing, and there’s two people sitting at the bar, but they already paid off so I’m not tripping. I call out “Last Call” to let everyone know that this is their last time ordering drinks for tonight. I begin to wipe down the counter when I heard “A whisky, neat please?” I turn over and load and behold it’s Kenji.

He has a pitiful smile on his face, knowing what he did to me. “Sorry we already did last call sir,” I replied, sounding unbothered by his presence. “Come on baby please?” He asked again pouting his lips. I rolled my eyes and turned my back from him as I scoffed.

“Okay I definitely deserved that,” he commented. I turn to him “You think?!” I snapped “I texted you seeing if something happened and I get radio silence on your end!” The two guests see our interaction and took it as a sign to call it a night. Kenji gave me a half scared/ half sad face. “I’m sorry for not calling or texting you. That was a shitty move on my end.” He explained. “It just…that day I got a call from my dad and I might be moving back to Japan soon.”

My eyes begin to widen. “What happened,” I asked. He look around our area and though there was no customers at this point, a couple of servers was still around doing sidework. “Would it be okay if we talk in private?” I had to think for a minute.

A guy I liked is asking back to his or my place, what could possibly go wrong? EVERYTHING!!! But I known him for a couple months now so it’s not like a stranger. Though he could possibly kill me. If I go, it’d have to be at my place. I know my way around it and I have weapons in case of emergency. Ugh why am I thinking so hard about this?! What if we sleep together?! Pfppp, that’s crazy talk?! That would NEVER happen in a million years!

“Uhhh, Y/n?” Kenji said softly. I snapped back to reality, “Sorry that just caught me off guard.” “If you don’t want to talk it’s ok-” “NO!” I shouted “I do, it just have to be at my place though. If you don’t mind.” He smiles at me, “That’s not a problem.” “Good well I’ll be off in 30 minutes so I’ll send you the address and text you when I’m home.” “Sounds good, I’ll see you then.”

I don’t know why but those 30 minutes were the fastest 30 minutes I’ve ever worked since I started working here. Nevertheless, I make it home and try to straighten up the place as much as I can. Before I took a shower, I texted him I’m home. He replied with “I’m on my way.” After getting out of the shower, I put on some loungewear. As soon as I look in the mirror to check myself, the doorbell rings.

I checked the peephole and it was Kenji holding what look like a bottle of champagne. “Heyy” I greeted him moving away from the door, signaling him to come in. He look around my apartment. It wasn’t much just a 1 bed/1 bath place with some outdated appliances, but I made it work.

“I like your place, it’s lovely.” He complement. I smile, “Thank you! Though I expect you seen better places than this.” He look at me a lot dumbfounded. “It’s doesn’t take away the fact that you have a lovely home.” I clear my throat. “Well I got some wine glasses so let’s try to wine down huh,” I nudged him. He laughed at my attempt but obliged.

You and Kenji are now sitting on the couch, with a glass of wine in each other y’all hand. He pours yours in the glass, “Why thank you.” You sip for it. “So, what is you have to tell me in private?” “Doing straight to the point, huh?” “I have to, I know you like to beat around the bush.”

He drink out his glass and begin to talk, “Well my dad got injured back in Japan from his job, and because of that he can no longer work.”

“And let just say, I need to go back and be his replacement to say the least.” “What do you mean by being a replacement?” Kenji straightened up and gives me a serious look “……If I tell you this, you promise me, wholeheartedly that you won’t tell a SOUL?” He made me nervous with the question but I nodded, “You have my word.” I take another sip of my drink

“I’m going to be Ultraman.” He confessed. I nearly choked on the champagne’s. I heard about him from social media times to times but never in a million years would I ever expected this. “What?!” “My family is Ultraman. I know it’s sounds crazy but it’s the truth.”

“How long have you known you were going to be Ultraman?” “Last week, it became official when I got the offer to transfer to the Giants in Tokyo.” He s soaked in the couch feeling defeated and exhausted by the whole situation. I begin to feel bad about the times I cursed him out in my head over not texting or calling him. Who knew he had literally the world on his shoulders.

“I’m sorry for dismissing your texts. You didn’t do anything wrong. I had to take some time to straighten this whole thing out. And it definitely put a damper on my plans.” “What plans may I ask?”

He look at me and our eyes connected each others. Only this time it felt, intimate and a longing for something more, or rather someone.

“That day at the bar, I wanted to ask you Y/n if it would be okay to take you out on a date.” He slides his hand to mine “When I’m with you, I feel comfortable and warmth. I like the way you carry yourself how you can hold yourself together, even when you don’t want to. Your smile and sense of humor is something I would never stop admire about you.”

I never been confessed to like this ever in my life, not even from past relationships. Just by hearing him and looking into his eyes, I can feel myself falling for him. “Kenji, I like you too. I would’ve definitely said yes that day.” I answered. “You bring out my comical side and always there to talk to more annoy whenever I need a break from customers.” We laughed. “But most importantly you’re kind, compassionate, and sensitive despite what the tvs or the world say about you. I know that you are a great person and I would love to take our relationship to the next level.”

He smiles and hold my hand firm. He get closer to my face, yet still hold our eyes contact. “And I promise you, I will prove to you everyday that I am worthy of your love and to never make you feel unappreciated.”

I could feel the tension in the living room that we created, and the wine that’s in my system. I don’t know what I did was the wrong move but I kissed him. His lips felt warm and soft. I quickly back up.

“I’m sorry, I shouldn’t have done that.” I apologize profusely.

He grabbed my face and our lips met again. It began slow, but it got deeper and more passionate. I soon straddle him on his lap to embrace him more. I run my fingers through his jet black hair and getting caught in it. He place his hands on my hips to get me closer to him. I caught myself coming out for air every few seconds but always going back in for more. I need him, I want him. Even if we only go on one date, he moves, and I never hear from him again, I just want him to make me feel good.

______________________________________________

A/N: PART TWO is hereee�� I’m so glad everyone enjoy the first one. I hope part two meet yall expectations. The last part should be here by tomorrow or Thursday.

As always hope everyone have a good day/night🩷

And don’t worry, “It does get steamy”

#kenji sato smut #kenji sato #ken sato x y/n #kenji sato x reader #ken sato #ultraman #ultraman rising

77 notes · View notes

callipraxia · 6 months ago

Text

"Let's press restart and try again": Thoughts on Fate, Prophecy, New Lore, and the Afterlife in Gravity Falls

So, the fun ain’t even half-over yet (I haven't even read half the new onine goodies yet...), but I have nevertheless started to move past my silly-first-reactions stage to The Book of Bill and back to over-analyzing the text. And one of the better-organized thoughts I’ve had is, “...so, that Theraprism, and the Axolotl, and....”

In the Message From: The Theraprism, Bill’s...therapist (?) informs us, in what I, at least, read as a slightly disturbingly cheery tone, that “with good behavior, [residents] have many exciting options for reincarnation – perhaps as a newt, shrimp, or a cloud of fungal spores!” On the next page, we see that someone has been declared “Cured!” and “Ready to reincarnate as: butterfly.” Getting out of the Theraprism is a real possibility ("even if it takes forever. Especially if it takes forever..."), but to do so, it seems, you have to end up in a far more radically different form than the original Axolotl poem ever, as far as I know, led any of us to guess.

So...it seems that Bill is not, in fact, deader-than-dead. He can, eventually, even get out of his current predicament and start a new life, if he passes various tests. Ax was as good as his word on that one. But his options are ‘remain forever in a facility for the criminally insane’ or ‘be reincarnated as something non-sentient.’ Which is...probably not exactly what Bill thought he was signing up for, is it?

Not, for the record, that I feel bad for him for getting screwed over – he did as bad or worse to everyone he ever made a deal with. I’ve also written before about my idea that the fundamental flaw in Bill’s perception is a deep-seated need for control and fear of losing control, a need that runs so deep that he cannot quite understand how anyone else might have a priority higher than self-preservation. If I’m right about that, then proof that Bill has been cured could well look like willingly giving up all sense of identity and starting over as an insect. It starts getting tricksy, though, when we get to the question of ‘and then what?’

Since the release of the secret pages of Time Pirates' Treasure at least, if not earlier, it has been speculated that there may be a link between the GF-verse's celestial salamander, the Axolotl, and the ancient Aztec deity for which axolotls are named, Xolotl. At this point, it seems fair enough to take Bill’s ultimate situation as a nod to the fact that the Aztec deity Xolotl was a death-god – specifically, he acted as a psychopomp, escorting people from life to death. Xolotl was also the god of deformity, twins, and fire/lightning (1), so it was already a good bet that he was somehow involved in this story just based on the composition of the main cast, with its two sets of twins and twin sets where each had one twin with unusual physical features; the question was, since the Axolotl showed no obvious fire or lightning affiliations, if he'd end up associated more with Bill or with the Axolotl. The Axolotl's implied authority over whether Bill gets “one more tri” would seem to make him more powerful than the god, but it also seems like decent evidence for the link existing between Xolotl and the Axolotl. As for whether they’re the same....

One major aspect of Xolotl which has no canon representation is that Xolotl was not only a god of twins, but also a twin himself (2). Since Bill refers to himself and the Axolotl both as gods, though, it seems unlikely that the Axolotl is meant to be a Big G-God. This makes it reasonable to hypothesize that he could have a sibling offscreen, but despite all the hints pointing toward the twin god, the Axolotl is alone during both of his canon appearances (3). There’s also no obvious connection between the Axolotl and fire or lightning, though again, this could simply be a matter of information we don’t have. New lore about the Axolotl that doesn’t quite seem to match with Xolotl, though, is that he’s...apparently operating in some form of Hinduism?

Disclaimer: I don't know much about Hinduism. I read a couple of books before writing this, but I am under no illusions that I have read anywhere near enough to properly understand the subject. If I say anything that is incorrect or offensive, I'd be grateful to anyone who let me know so that I could fix the error as soon as possible. Come to that - while I've read a lot more about classical Mesoamerican religions than I have about Hinduism, the fact remains that I got all my books from public libraries and many - indeed, probably most - of them were doubtless outdated, so let me know if you see that I've screwed up something there, too. That said...let's look at this apparent jump between systems.

The reason why I found a couple of books about Hinduism while coming up with the idea for this post is on the first page about Bill's stay in the Theraprism. When Bill is committed, he is recommended "indefinite karmic rehabilitation" before he can be offered a chance to reincarnate. The term 'karma' is sometimes used casually, of course, outside of its religious context, but from my (limited) reading, the situation Bill is in actually does seem to be akin to the religious concept. After his death, Bill is confined a facility for repentance - a sort of purgatory, only except instead of going on to a good afterlife once he's been purified, as he might from Christian purgatory, he'll instead go back into (a) world in some other, radically different form. Aztec religion, admittedly, also involved reincarnation, but manner of death seems to have been more important than conduct during life did - the Aztecs have this in common with the Norse, though the Aztecs beat both the Norse and Hinduism in the number of potential afterlives available in their systems. I also can't recall ever seeing the notion of universal reincarnation or anything like moksha, the Hindu concept of achieving release from the cycle of death and rebirth through accumulation of good karma, in any materials I've read about Aztec religion. It is unclear whether any such idea exists in the afterlives presided over by the Axolotl, either, but it is implied that Bill did have a choice in the matter of whether or not to accept the Axolotl's deal - maybe no options he'd like, but at least two options nevertheless. However, since Bill is the opposite of someone with good karma, as indicated by his admission file, it seems unlikely that he was offered an opportunity to assimilate with the godhead without expunging his sins. What, then, was his other option? Nonexistence? And what happens to everyone else? Is this cycle in effect for everyone or just paranormal entities?

It's worth noting that Bill shares many traits with the ghosts in "The Inconveniencing": they are intangible, they are capable of possessing the bodies of others, they have a particular ability to influence those who are in a somehow impaired (Bill: sleeping; Duskertons: high on Smile Dip) state, and they have at least some reality-warping powers. Bill's may exist on a larger scale, but there is enough overlap to make it seem plausible that Bill had already 'died' (in some sense of the term) long before the events of canon. Bill also offers his followers, or at least selected followers, opportunities to ascend to immortal and intrinsically powerful status as well; add to that the earlier point about how casually Bill refers to both himself and the Axolotl as 'gods' and it seems that immortality may be relatively achievable in the GF-verse (if at the cost of things like your soul, sanity, access to your physical senses, and the cleanliness of your interdimensional criminal record), which leaves open the possibility that there could be enough supernatural entities out there for them to require their own afterlife protocols and post-mortem bureaucracy. The Henchmaniacs are implied to be less powerful than Bill, but still significantly more powerful and long-lived than they have any business being, if the note in The Book of Bill about Hectorgon starting out as a lawman (lawshape?) trying to arrest Bill before joining him is anything to go by, and Bill becomes positively gleeful when talking about some of the paths Ford might have taken:

"I took a little peek through his possible futures and giggled with delight. He was destined for so much more...it was suddenly so clear. The Shaman's zodiac wasn't a cage meant to trap me; it was a TRICK to try to keep me away from the humans I could USE! Me and Sixer would be the perfect team...."

The Book of Bill shows that Bill can lie with impunity, but on balance, the evidence still indicates that his deals have to involve a certain amount of truth, if only from a very particular point of view when he's in the stronger bargaining position. It seems...reasonably safe to take him at his word that, having become a monster himself, he can make monsters of others. The implication is that small gods, in the GF-verse, are formed basically the same way as vampires: the price is too high for any sane person to pay and the number of 'families' (pantheons?) is probably relatively limited, there never will be anything like as many players of the 'game' Bill alludes to in his petition to the Axolotl as there are normal mortals, but in theory, anyone reckless and ruthless enough could, with a touch of luck, transcend mortality. The number who do might be small compared to the overall number of beings in the multiverse, but it still isn't likely to be an especially small number. A system where would-be immortals operate under different conditions than mortals would be reasonable enough in this context, but we don't have enough evidence to say one way or the other right now, at least not unless something's hit the notawebsite that I haven't seen yet. The implied ability of creatures to duck death, though, combined with the choice Bill is offered, nevertheless acts as another point against the idea that the Axolotl is in any way omnipotent or omniscient: it's more powerful than Bill, which is frighteningly powerful, but presumably, it could not compel Bill to take the offer, no more than Bill could technically force Ford to allow him back into his mind during Weirdmageddon. If Bill is telling the truth about there being many worlds where Ford did end up joining the Henchmaniacs, then even prophecy is not absolute. Incredible power exists in this universe, but so does free will. The characters' choices matter, without any sophistry being necessary to reconcile this with the existence of prophecy; perhaps Bill is even right and the Zodiac could have just easily served him as opposed him, just as the Oracle's prophecy to Ford technically had at least two options built into it. This is not a system I have often seen used in series with prophecy, but I must say, I kinda like it.

Ultimately, of course, it's unlikely that the Axolotl cult is exactly like any real religion, whether widely practiced today or not. The show does, ultimately, have its own messages to convey and its own storytelling (or, often enough, joke-making) mechanics to operate under which are distinct from those of our world. It is interesting, though, to consider what these real-world allusions could imply for worldbuilding as we all merrily launch into our next round of fics...

Though that reminds me: Puppet Hour. What does that mean? What are the therapists (at least one of whom appears to worship an entity with referral privileges) talking about when they say that? Why do they call it that, especially in such close proximity to mention of journaling, when Ford's the Author of the Journals and also the 'puppet' in Bill's show of the same name as this alleged therapy exercise? What exactly is going on here? I have no idea, but if anyone else has a theory, please let me know about it, I'm sure this means something but have no idea what it could be.

Notes:

The Aztecs had several gods whose domains included fire. They also had multiple gods associated with death, though Xolotl’s the only psychopomp I can recall in their pantheon.

For FWJB readers - there's a lore dump here, if anyone wants to read that.

One potential answer to this puzzle may be that Bill is his 'other half,' since they are called 'the opposites' in the poem at the end of The Book of Bill. Bill's comment about siblings to Mabel in "Sock Opera" ("who would give up everything they've worked for just for their dumb sibling?") could also imply that his family problems didn't end with his parents. However, this is unlikely for several reasons. For one thing, although Bill can assume any shape he pleases in the Dreamscape ("Dreamscaperers") and easily alter his physical form during Weirdmageddon, he seems to prefer to stick to triangles and pyramids, close to the shape he was when he was 'born.' Him having a brother who is a salamander would be...novel. For another thing, if Bill did have a brother, then said brother was most likely one of the individuals Bill murdered. In that context, "look, from one god to another/who cares I tried to kill those brothers?" would seem like a...risky...angle to take.

#gravity falls #gravity falls characters #gravity falls analysis #gravity falls theory #the book of bill #bill cipher #the axolotl #mythology #this got kinda deeper than I expected....#over-analyzing the text

18 notes · View notes

hidden-clue · 7 months ago

Text

Mystery of the Seven Keys – culprit theories (major spoilers)

I'm at the alchemy lab, so I don't know how the game ends yet, but throughout the game I've developed a single theory; they're all in on it, it's the LIE all over again.

Here's what I think is going down:

Patricia and Adela are obviously in cahoots, they've made a deal to trick Nancy as soon as she arrived, and I'm convinced they're collaborating on more than this; Patricia's job is to monitor what Nancy does in the cafe, and to report to the rest of the group, or just Adela, and give Nancy puzzles to solve (the snowglobe, the book puzzle – I'll get back to the book puzzle later).

Elka sells Nancy a computer, to which she immediately gets a virus; I believe the virus was set up in order for someone in the group to get to see the DEGAS files for the necklace and if they'd been modified, if someone is suspicious about the necklace. Nancy got that virus while connected to Patricia's wifi, which she could have used to transfer a virus, and she's the only one who could have known when to do it.

I believe what they're all doing is a trial run of falsifying one necklace and seeing how well they can get away with it and make it so that nobody can figure it out, so they could later do it on the crown jewels, or at least this is what the game really wants me to believe is going down. Vladena, I think is their fence, she runs a shop, she has access to the DEGAS system and claims to be allowed to modify it, which seems questionable, why did she create a physical log in the first place if other jewlery doesn't even have any? She not only created the physical log, but claimed to have modified the digital one to fit the physical, and if physical is not even supposed to exist before the digital, she is able to falsify digital records on DEGAS. It's possible the jewels were real when they were first entered in DEGAS, by modifying it she made it seem like the necklace was fake before being sent to SecondShine, and maybe it wasn't. Maybe it was real then, and they wanted to see if they could falsify the trail of when something real was replaced with something fake, and if that could be uncovered by an investigation. Also her safe is filled with jewlery with their jewels missing – why keep empty jewlery in a safe? She was hiding that she takes jewels out.

Now, about the puzzle for the book with the key – I wondered who sent that, so I analyzed the picture, and it's a piece of paper laying on a red wooden desk, with a very pronounced wooden texture. I went around the game looking at everyone's desk, and the only one that comes close to both the color and texture, is Marek's desk. The key also unlocks his box, which gives us a key for the little snow globe, and that had to be intentional, piece by piece they handed Nancy the path to the Alchemy lab. Marek is very obviously in support of Rezidente, he blatantly talks about it as if he knows exactly what it is, and his posters reveal support for the tradition, so I believe he'd find it dumb for crown jewles to be collecting dust in a box when they could be of some service to the people. Or maybe he's doing it for other, unrelated reason.

Marek and Radek get a text message at the exact same moment and look at each other; they're receiving orders from the same person. There's also the 12th doll codeword for something, maybe a time (12 o clock?) for a metting? When you look at the supplies Marek is buying, it's metal, leather, fabric, paint. Does he need all that for his dolls, which allegedly he's not fixing himself, even though he has a full tool panel in his workshop? No he doesn't, it's for the knight outfit. I think he's the one chasing Nancy trough the tunnels when she's underground. I think he also reports to Adele which is why she knew to call as soon as Nancy had visited the lab.

Elka asked for Nancy's cell phone for a virus, giving herself the chance to take a look of all Nancy's contacts and messages, another way to monitor her investigation. I don't believe Nancy had ever been monitored this closely while investigating.

Oscar keeps being shady about what he's talking about with Vladena, I believe they're both competing to get the access to the location of the crown jewels. Oscar is repeatedly trying to get that from Leo, not that Leo seems to be aware of that, since his secretary gatekeeps information (i'm sorry, filters).

Elka and Vladena have the exact same pen, Marek and Vladena share the same type of weight, even though hers has some engravings, they're either shopping in the same place or sharing resources, or using these to send messages to each other, even though thats a bit silly since they do have texting.

Okay so I believe it goes like this: Adela is the leader, her necklace was just something they stole before, her reasoning for wanting the jewels back was just a farce to see how Nancy could investigate such a crime, and to get her to help them to the jewels they planned to steal. Vladena is the fence, storing and hiding jewlery they stole some parts of, and illegaly modifying DEGAS files while pretending to be a bit dumb about the tech so it wouldn' t be too suspicious when she does it. Marek and Radek are their connection to the people and doing advertising to the cause, Radek does it with his plays, and Marek makes a direct connection to people who have and appreciate old things, by fixing them, possibly he recruits people this way. Radek also does the heavy work of scaring people away by cosplaying a ghost knight. I don't think they utilize Elka a lot because she's just a kid but I do believe they instructed her to give Nancy a computer they could easily monitor/bug/send a virus to, in order to see whatever Nancy is doing in there. Oscar is responsible for finding out where the jewels are and what's a good opportunity to get to them, while Adela attempts to find the seven keys, some of it trough Nancy.

If I'm super wrong and this is nonsense I'll get to laugh at myself later when I finish the game! It's fun to make theories before knowing for sure because once you know, you know.

#mystery of the seven keys #clue crew #nancy drew games #key #culprit theories

4 notes · View notes

beca-mitchell · 5 years ago

Photo

religion's in your lips (even if it's a false god) (1/1)

Summary: Beca still wants Chloe in whatever way she can get her, even at her own detriment. Rated M/E for sex.

This is for @asimplefavors in thanks for her donation and participation in @ppfandomdrive. This is part of the now i see daylight au.

Word count: 4,944

Read below or on AO3.

* * * * *

Age: 19 Location: New York City, NY Month: December

* * * * *

Not that Beca’s counting, but this is the fourth month since her break-up with Chloe and the first time since meeting Chloe at five years old that she’s been uncertain about going into the new year without her best friend by her side.

It’s weird. It’s uncertain.

But most of all, it feels like she’s never really going to get over that break-up—her first break-up ever—anytime soon.

It stings, months later, even though Beca knows that Chloe had her reasons for wanting to go their separate ways; even though Beca knows now that she and Chloe hadn’t been working for a while; even though there had been problems on both ends.

It isn’t worth analyzing, not now to Beca at least. The short story is simple enough, rife with enough heartache: it had been too much too fast and they hadn’t been ready to handle it enough.

Still, years of friendship with Chloe has made Beca somewhat of an optimist (a bad one regardless), so she kind of keeps hoping for some kind of refrain to their story, not a coda. The distance between them now feels oppressive—jarring in ways that Beca could have never imagined—even if Beca knows with every fiber of her being that Chloe is closer to her than ever before (physically at least) since they’re both likely in the same city.

Chloe had adapted easily to her transfer to Columbia from Barden, as Beca had expected. They had barely exchanged texts, just simple greetings and congratulatory messages from time to time—as often as they could within the span of the four months they had officially been broken up. Within that time, however, Beca felt more and more desperate to stay connected to Chloe despite everything. It had taken Beca everything to not mention offhandedly that she knew Chloe had started lowkey seeing somebody (or at least sleeping with somebody—though Beca isn’t sure which is the more comforting thought) around the end of October or early November.

...not that Beca had been keeping track.

Or, rather, more accurately put, she doesn’t want to keep track. It just seems like she’s not very good at getting her way when it comes to Chloe Beale.

* * * * *

It wasn’t like Beca necessarily had other plans for the New Year. A lackluster collection of messages sit on her phone from her father, her mother, and even her step-siblings, but none of them really invigorated her into wanting to spend time with any of them (and if she’s being painfully honest with herself, she’s almost certain that they’re not wholly interested in spending that much time with her either). Even her increasingly growing circle of friends in Los Angeles didn’t really feel like the right group of people to spend the new year with.

But, even with that on Beca’s mind, all of this had been Theo’s idea. Beca had begrudgingly agreed because she had kind of grown tired of being cooped up in Los Angeles where she would have been happy to spend some quality time in the studio. With the success of her EP and her first full-length album being well on its way, Theo had thought it a good idea to make their rounds to “friends and family” of the Republic Records roster.

It was surreal to say the least, brushing shoulders with people that Beca had once admired from the confines of her bedroom all the way back in Massachusetts, simply hoping that she would have her shot. From her bedroom to the record store where she had spent most days flipping through old albums, daydreaming about music and Chloe and simply wishing for time to fly by so she could finally get her life started.

What she would do to go back to that quiet store, to feel Chloe’s arms draped over her shoulders and her playful giggle in her ear in her attempts to distract Beca from work she had no intention of doing anyway.

Now, at a private party hosted by FLETCHER, Beca has to shake herself more than once simply to get out of the headspace she had been in, good thoughts and bad thoughts alike.

This is, after all, her once in a lifetime opportunity.

* * * * *

Scratch that. All of that.

She’s staring right at Chloe Beale at a rented-out abandoned warehouse-apartment. Beca would recognize Chloe anywhere. She can’t quite believe her eyes.

Once in a lifetime opportunities indeed.

* * * * *

Chloe looks good.

That’s the first thing Beca notices and she kind of hates herself for it, but it can’t be helped. Her hair is longer, maybe a little curlier, and it falls in loose, beautiful waves over her shoulders. Beca tries to assess whether Chloe looks the same otherwise, but she can’t really tell, not with the dim lighting around them. Beca quickly shakes her head at her companion as she rises from her seat in the corner and darts up to quickly greet Chloe before Chloe has a chance to slip away.

With her heart in her throat, the pressure definitely encroaching on her ability to speak, she steps beside Chloe. She tracks her eyes up the side of Chloe’s face for a moment while Chloe has yet to notice her as Beca moves to lean against the same wall Chloe is leaning again.

It takes a moment but Chloe visibly does a double-take when she twists slightly to observe her new wall partner. Beca’s neck heats and she is thankful immediately for the low light.

“Beca?” Chloe exclaims. “Beca! I—holy crap—” Beca dares to make eye contact, feeling her lips twitch into what feels like a smile even though her heart and brain war against each other to process the emotions swirling in her stomach.

Beca opens her mouth to say something—anything, really, at this point—but words fail her momentarily. She swallows, angling her body towards Chloe as well because to do so feels natural, like they gravitate towards each other on instinct. Something beyond either of their control.

“Come with me?” Beca asks. It is then that it really sinks in for her that she is finally standing in front of Chloe who looks equally surprised to see her. Beca really shouldn’t have been surprised at all, not initially at least, because Chloe always had a way of finding her way into the right crowds, but even more than that, she always had a special knack for finding her way into Beca’s life.

“Okay,” Chloe says. At least, Beca thinks she responds. She wants nothing more than to reach back to grab Chloe’s hand or at least look over her shoulder to see if Chloe is following, but she fears that to look back would mean sending Chloe away again.

When Beca finally dares to look back, she is relieved to see that Chloe followed—that perhaps Chloe would always follow Beca in the same way Beca would for her.

“Hi,” Chloe says, when silence passes between them once more in their more secluded corner; their little corner away from prying eyes and keen ears. “You—” she cuts herself off when she notices Beca is in the middle of speaking as well, gesturing at Beca politely.

“Uh, hi,” Beca greets a bit lamely, for some reason now terrified that Chloe has given her the floor to speak. “You’re...here,” she says stiltedly. “In New York. I mean. Because you go to school here now. But you’re here at this…” She looks around before shrugging a shoulder. “It’s good to see you.”

Chloe smiles, tucking her hair behind her ears in a gesture that seems rather shy to Beca, but endearing nonetheless. “New Year’s treat to myself,” she says in explanation.

“Ah.” Beca tries not to, she really does, but her eyes track down Chloe’s body immediately, taking in Chloe’s outfit. Simple black jeans and a tank top should have no business looking that good on anybody, but Beca feels her mouth go dry at every last forbidden memory that assaults her system. Briefly, she finds herself jealous, like she ought to scan the dwindling crowd and see whether Chloe came with any friends.

Or any one friend in particular.

She drags her eyes back to Chloe quickly, wrestling with her emotions so she can school her expression appropriately. “Did you come alone?” Beca asks, attempting to inject the right amount of curiosity-sans-jealousy into her tone. Nonchalant. She can do that.

Chloe blushes again and something akin to guilt rises up on her cheeks. It’s a bit of a stretch as Chloe takes her time to respond before finally settling on “Did you? Come alone, I mean.” Her gaze dips past Beca’s shoulder to where Beca had been sitting in her corner, half-heartedly paying attention to the conversation she had been engaging in with her plus-one.

A gaze that meant that perhaps Chloe had been more observant than Beca previously assumed. The thought sends heat through Beca’s body, settling somewhere in her chest and manifesting in a blush across her cheeks.

Chloe is here now. And Chloe is evading her question with a question of her own, which makes all kinds of turmoil swirl through Beca’s stomach.

“I didn’t,” Beca manages to mumble, feeling the oddest sensation of guilt as well. She hadn’t been saving herself for Chloe or anything, which is what she tells herself as she tries to talk herself down. It’s harder to remind herself that Chloe hadn’t necessarily saved herself for her either. “Just...mostly a label thing. I’m here for, um, work.”

It’s all really just too fucking fresh and too fucking devastating, knowing that ‘work’ had been what drove them apart in the first place because they had both naively thought that things wouldn’t have to change between them—that high school would follow them both with ease and transition without any real effort.

Chloe’s tongue comes out to swipe at her lower lip. “I didn’t...either. Not really. But they’re…” Chloe casts a glance over her shoulder. She looks back at Beca, bashful. “It seemed like a good way to kick off the new year, you know?”

“How’s school?” Beca asks. “I know you were…” she swallows thinking of how absent she had been when Chloe had been working on her transfer application. “You were really excited.” It comes out softer than intended and Beca feels the sudden urge to reach out to hold Chloe’s hand.

Chloe smiles at her words. “I love it,” she replies, sounding as passionate as Beca remembers her.

I love you, Beca thinks. "That's good to hear," she says aloud.

* * * * *

The end up talking for at least an hour. Socially, it’s probably not either of their best attempts at working the room, but they both appear to revel in the ease with which they are able to sink back into their usual conversational habits.

But, more poignantly, their usual chemistry. It ebbs and flows in waves around them, like a heady song reminiscent of all the memories that Beca had attempted (with no real effort in all honesty) to suppress.

Beca is so painfully reminded of how long it’s been since she last had sex (with Chloe).

“Do you have plans after this?” Beca asks during a lull in their conversation. She warms at the way Chloe’s eyes flash towards her.

“No,” Chloe admits. “But my friends were thinking of dipping anyway.”

“Oh,” Beca mumbles. “Okay.” She tries not to fixate on the fact that Chloe doesn’t seem to plan on leaving with them. Her eyes track across Chloe’s shoulders and collarbone again.

Beca’s obvious ogling doesn’t go unnoticed. Chloe doesn’t look upset by the attention. Instead, she looks pleased.

Maybe too pleased.

It makes Beca want to kiss the smirk right off her lips.

She struggles to think of something to say—anything but the thoughts racing through her mind. She blames the adrenaline from the high of the live performance and the reception to her music. She blames the energy of the crowd around them. She blames Chloe’s proximity to her. She blames the fact that she can see the light sheen of sweat on Chloe’s bared skin.

But Chloe’s smug expression fades eventually and she shrugs. “Do you want to...talk more?” Chloe asks sincerely. “Or are you busy?”

Beca glances around, taking stock of the people in closest proximity to them. She casts a glance around, keeping an eye out for a handler or her manager, but upon seeing that the coast is fairly clear, she nods and grabs Chloe’s wrist. “Come with me. We can go someplace quieter.”

* * * * *

It feels like a new verse—or maybe an entirely new song. Not quite deja vu, but Beca isn’t sure what she would prefer.

* * * * *

The ride back to Beca’s hotel is the quite possibly the tensest car ride Beca has ever been on. She glances at Chloe non-stop, trying to remember the last time they sat side by side in a car. It had been when Chloe had picked her up at the airport that...that last time.

Beca clenches her hands in her lap.

The hurt still flares up from time to time, but over the past few weeks, it had lessened to nothing but a dull throbbing ache. Nothing to write home about. Nothing to fret over. She had simply been too busy with working on her EP, releasing her single, and then doing promotional work to even think about Chloe for more than a few minutes a day. It was only within those few minutes that she found herself lost in the sad memory of her ex-girlfriend.

But now—now, Chloe is next to her and they finally have a chance to talk. Beca wrings her hands nervously as they round the last street corner before her hotel.

Talking is fine. Beca can talk. Chloe was—is—her best friend. She has nothing to be afraid of. She knows this.

“This is me,” Beca announces unnecessarily as the driver pulls to a stop. “A hotel.”

Chloe giggles at Beca’s unnecessary but familiar awkwardness. “I figured.”

Beca’s throat goes dry. “Well, I mean. Just in case...you didn’t know.” She feels nervous, like she’s about to enter her first day of high school again.

Chloe’s gaze locks onto hers and Beca forgets whatever inane thing she was about to say.

So, talking is a little hard now.

Sue her.

Sue them both.

* * * * *

But some things are easy enough to fall back into. Too easy.

Like the way Chloe’s hand reaches for hers in the elevator. How gently and intimately their fingers tangle together.

Like the way Beca’s entire body heats up when she sees exactly how Chloe is looking at her.

Like the way Beca knew exactly what she wanted to happen when she suggested they go someplace quieter to talk.

* * * * *

“Nice room,” Chloe comments, trailing a finger along the edge of an ornate dresser by the bed. “They didn’t have any suites available?”

The teasing lilt to Chloe’s voice seems amplified—something dark and hungry in Chloe’s tone—but Beca only notices because every last sensory nerve is alert; every sound reverberates through her with the force of a thousand speakers.

She swallows, taking a step towards Chloe before hesitating when Chloe’s eyes cut up to her own.

The thing that comforts Beca most is the stark vulnerability she sees in Chloe’s eyes—the same that she’s sure must be reflected in her own eyes. She wants to say a million things—wants to ask a hundred jealous questions and more. Between leaving high school and now, a mere year and a bit, she feels like they have aged an entire lifetime. The chasm between them is so palpable, rife with tension and hurt mixed in confusingly with the same chemistry they always enjoyed.

“I don’t need a suite,” Beca finally responds. Though her words are bland, she can’t help the way her voice rasps out due to the tightness in her throat and in her chest. Not for this, she wants to say. I need you.

“Guess not,” Chloe murmurs before she closes the distance between them, pulling Beca in for a searing kiss. It is not quite the kiss that Beca envisioned they’d share upon meeting up again, but she curls her fingers tightly into the front of Chloe’s shirt and holds on tight, unwilling to let go, even for what she’s sure is just a night of nothing but uninhibited passion.

* * * * *

“Fuck, Beca,” Chloe moans, tangling her fingers in Beca’s hair to the point of pain. “Right there, yeah, fuck, right there—”

Beca continues to eagerly lick and suck at Chloe’s wet folds, wanting nothing more to bring Chloe to the brink again and again until neither of them can move anymore. She grips Chloe’s thighs, forcing her legs apart further, and continues, uncaring as Chloe’s moans and cries only increase in volume. She doesn’t care if she gets a noise complaint. She’d go as far as to say that a noise complaint is the goal at the moment. She wants to get as many noise complaints as she can. It doesn’t matter as long as she makes Chloe fucking come.

She pushes her tongue past Chloe’s folds, as deep as it can possibly go. Her jaw aches badly but still, she pushes forward. She resists the urge to stop because stopping would mean she would no longer hear the wonderful sounds Chloe makes with each pass of her tongue; with each clumsy stroke of her fingers just where she knows Chloe needs her most. Beca groans at the taste of Chloe all over her mouth and the sounds of Chloe coming apart echoing all over the room.

“I’m going to come,” Chloe moans out. “I’m going to come, fuck—” she comes with a sharp cry, Beca’s name on her lips. Her hips rock up and down as if attempting to dislodge Beca from her, but her hand clamps down hard against the back of Beca’s head to keep her in place. It is an almost unfamiliar, possessive grip. Beca barely remembers when they had been so consumed by passion and lust that emotions barely had the chance to make themselves known. Still, the gesture makes Beca grind down against the bed in reaction, clenching her fingertips against Chloe’s sweat-slicked skin. She steadies herself by grabbing Chloe’s hips in a vice grip, moaning as the taste of Chloe further floods her mouth, wetting her chin slightly. Her own cunt clenches around nothing as she pants, muffling her own cry against Chloe’s thigh, finally receiving the sweetest, but smallest of releases. She kisses Chloe’s damp skin, using her teeth to bluntly nip along the soft warmth of Chloe’s inner thigh in an attempt to calm herself down.

Without waiting for Chloe to say anything else, Beca crawls up her body, using her fingers to stimulate her own clit as she goes. She groans, eyes nearly crossing at the sensation. She’s too sensitive, too far gone, so she rocks her hips greedily down against Chloe’s thigh before letting her fingers slip inside herself. Months since she has felt another person’s touch against her—months since Chloe. Even touching herself didn’t quite feel the same without the knowledge that she had Chloe. “I’m so close,” she pants out. “Please, I want to—”

Chloe nods, still slightly dazed from her orgasm, but she pulls Beca in for a searing kiss, tasting just the faintest remnants of herself along the inside of Beca’s mouth. She moans, arching upwards and spreading her legs to accommodate Beca between them. Her hands move to grab at Beca’s ass, helping her rock slowly against the steady, firm thigh Chloe has between her legs, but it’s not what Beca wants most. Her rocking is hindered by her own hand between her legs, her fingers not quite doing what she wants most. She licks her lips, whimpering at the taste of Chloe still lingering just slightly on her lower lip.

“Let me,” Chloe rasps. She wraps a hand around Beca’s wrist. “Come on,” she urges.

Beca bites her lower lip as she removes her fingers, moaning at the loss. She clumsily tries to slot herself between Chloe’s legs, thrusting her hips down as best as she can.

Chloe’s hands drift to her hips in order to better steady her. “Beca, I can—”

“No. Please,” Beca grits out, cutting Chloe off unexpectedly. “I want to feel you like this.” Her hips stutter in their rhythm, but she quickly grabs one of Chloe’s legs and lifts slightly, shifting her hips in just the right way so that she can feel Chloe’s wet folds and her stiff clit brush against her own nether regions. The sensation, even though it is slight with their haphazard positioning, makes her eyes cross and her stomach coil in pleasure knowing that she gets to experience this with Chloe once more. She gasps out, unable to stop the brief, high-pitched sounds from escaping her. She feels so close to Chloe—so connected to her once more. “Please,” she begs. “Let me, God—” she cries out, connecting fully with Chloe’s center.

She aches, badly. Partly from the discomfort of their positions, but also with how much she wants Chloe like this. Like the past few months—hell, the past year—of emotions have come rushing out to spar for dominance in the tangle of Beca’s bedsheets, no longer as crisp and clean as they had been just that morning.

It is as if Chloe feels that surge of emotion from Beca, like she always had before. Chloe’s hands tighten on her hips as her breathing grows erratic once more. She slowly guides Beca’s movements, keeping a steady, gentle rocking motion until she evidently grows impatient and reaches down to swipe her thumb against Beca’s clit. Beca gasps, hips jolting out of place, which is enough for Chloe to roll them over so she can pin Beca beneath her body and slowly press two fingers inside her. “This is so much better,” Chloe purrs, energy renewed.

Beca could disagree on some levels but she can’t exactly disagree fully, not when Chloe’s fingers feel so fucking good inside her, finally.

Months of not having that sensation of fullness, not just physically despite how fucking good it feels, but also that sensation of emotional connection she had been missing so much.

Months of feeling like she couldn’t breathe, knowing that her jealousy had been welling up inside her, threatening to spill over at any second.

Months of not having Chloe, who always knew exactly how to make her feel amazing.

“I wanted to come on you,” Beca pants out, uncaring that her brain is no longer connected to her mouth. “God, fuck, I’ve wanted to do that for so long.”

Chloe groans. “Later,” she mumbles, leaning down to suck harshly at Beca’s nipple. “I want you like this,” she declares, letting Beca know that the time for negotiation and demands is over. As Chloe’s free hand comes up to cup her breast possessively, Beca briefly wonders how she could possibly want anybody else; she wonders whether Chloe still wants her as much as she still wants Chloe; she wonders if Chloe thinks of her the same way Beca thinks of Chloe, alone in her bed.

Nothing, however, compares to this—the thick, hot air around them, sheets rumpled all around them like a nest for them to lie in until the morning comes. Beca curls her fingers into Chloe’s hair, arching her back with a weak whimper as Chloe’s fingers flex and push inside her with consistency and force.

The sharp sting of Chloe’s teeth against her sensitive skin makes Beca coil and tense once more, this time more distinct than before. She barely recognizes her own voice when she groans, deep and low, as she clenches tight around Chloe’s fingers. “Make me come, please”

“I will,” Chloe promises, increasing the intensity of her thrusts. The bed creaks.

Like a refrain that Beca has longed to hear over and over, she loses herself in the chorus of her own staccato whimpers and grunts, offset only by the echo of Chloe’s breathless sounds. She lets the sensation of being completely possessed by Chloe wrap her up in the pseudo-warmth of being loved once more—the thin blanket of passion and lust that covers them both. She clutches at it—a tightening of her fingers in Chloe’s hair once more and a sharp scratch up Chloe’s back—with some desperation, wanting to both lose herself completely and yet, stay coherent so she can recall every last moment.

“Fuck, don’t stop,” Beca pants out, losing track of the rhythm for the briefest of moments as she scrabbles to hold on to whatever part of Chloe she can reach. Chloe clutches her back in return, pressing closer to her, nearly trapping her arm and hand between their bodies entirely.

“I won’t,” Chloe promises again in a tone that sends a fresh wave of arousal through Beca.

Beca allows herself to shut her eyes.

* * * * *

Beca refuses to let up and to her delight, Chloe refuses to as well. She matches Beca one-for-one for everything and before either of them realizes, it is verging close to the early morning.

Sweaty and sticky, Beca moves to grab water from the hotel room’s mini-fridge and tosses a second bottle to Chloe. Chloe takes a long drink before clumsily placing the bottle on the dresser and twisting to face Beca. Chloe’s eyes are dark and wanting, with the mildest hint of exhaustion. Beca’s sure she looks the same—two of them, complete messes. But this is their own little world. At least for the next little while that Beca has Chloe here with her.

Chloe is endlessly patient. She waits while Beca drinks her water. Beca watches her, eyes tracing over the endless, unmarked skin save for a few red scratch marks and blooming hickeys in hidden spots. She wants to do more. She’s not sure where the obsession comes from, but it springs from deep within her chest, like a well that refuses to empty no matter how much Beca draws from it.

A well full of every last repressed thought about Chloe, about their relationship, and about their lives together. Beca knows that this is so unhealthy—that they should talk. But the sex makes everything feel that much more bearable. She can do this with Chloe. They’re both consenting adults. They both have the freedom to decide what they want. Chloe wants this too.

As long as Chloe wants this, she wants Beca. She wants Beca, without a doubt. It clears the insecurities momentarily.

And that’s good enough for Beca.

Beca slowly puts the mostly empty water bottle down on the closest surface. She wants desperately to shower, but she cannot resist crawling back into bed and climbing back on top of Chloe eagerly. No words are needed as their limbs intertwine and their bodies slot together naturally, like they’ve done this a thousand times. Maybe they have, Beca can’t recall. Not when Chloe pulls her in for a messy, passionate kiss, again lacking much of the care and affection their previous kisses used to have.

Beca doesn’t care. Not now, not ever, she thinks. She can do this. All she knows is that her body is somewhat satisfied, but not fully.

She needs to know that Chloe still wants her—that Chloe still desires her in the way that she always did. She is not disappointed when Chloe’s hands immediately fly to her ass, groping at the flesh she finds before slipping to her still-wet pussy. Beca knows how incredibly sore she is going to be in a few hours—perhaps she feels a hint of it already—but she cannot help but rock back onto Chloe’s fingers as she begins to fuck her again.

“Yes,” Chloe whispers. “Fuck yourself, Bec.”

Beca obeys, nodding frantically as she begins a punishing pace. She can only lift her hips so high as to keep Chloe’s fingers steady inside her, but it is Chloe who picks up the pace, who uses her strength to flip them over so she can use her hips as more leverage to drive her fingers deeper and faster.

Chloe was always better at fucking her anyway.

Again, again, Beca’s body cries out.

Her mind and heart remain shockingly quiet on the subject, but Beca wonders how anybody or anything could be displeased by this result. She comes incredibly quick, clenching tight around Chloe’s fingers. For a long moment, Chloe keeps her fingers still, both of them still breathing hard. Beca almost clamps her legs shut around Chloe’s hands, just to keep her there.

Don’t go, she almost says aloud when Chloe finally moves her hand away.

She doesn’t want it to end.

* * * * *

When Beca wakes up in the morning (read: only a few short hours later), her duvet is still warm and Chloe’s pillow is still slightly rumpled. The air smells of Chloe and sex. The bed is half empty, save for a small folded note just above where Chloe’s body had been laying mere hours, minutes, seconds before.

Beca does not have to look elsewhere to see that all of Chloe’s things are probably gone. She reaches for the note even though she knows that the foreboding in her heart is her body telling her that she shouldn’t.

thanks for making the start of this year amazing it was wonderful seeing you xx chloe

She hates how much it feels like another ending.

* * * * *

fin.

#bechloe #pitch perfect fandom drive #pp fandom drive #pitch perfect #bechloe fic #my fanfic #mine #gif #now i see daylight #mine:au

248 notes · View notes

moma-del-rey · 3 years ago

Text

letting you go

I saw you for the first time today after we ended things. I will not deny that I was tipsy. Liquid courage is what got me through that whole night. You were the last person I though would walk through the doors of the foyer. I got a text from my friend saying you were here and my heart sort of sunk. Why were you here? This is not your scene at all (from what I remember about you at least). We run into each other at the bar. The resentment suddenly left my body when you looked at me and smiled to say hello. You were the same warm, welcoming and nonchalant person I fell for in the beginning. Not a word was uttered about the way we left things. We were able to laugh together formidably as if we were two old friends. Oh how I wished you weren’t such a friendly face. A couple of drinks later, I see you on the dance floor. I was too drunk to care at this point. I say hello to your friends and they say hello back, no awkwardness. For a split second I thought I would feel okay about seeing you around but then you were with a girl. And then a different girl. You were dancing and seemingly enjoying yourself. I found myself looking around for you in the crowd a lot all night to see if you were looking at me. Not a single glimpse towards me. The insecurities crept in as the alcohol wore off. With a overhanging feeling of depression I backed out of the dance floor to go look for my friend. So unsure of why you were still making me feel this way despite it being a year since we were together, I started really analyzing my unshakable infatuation.

Then I realized, it was the rush of serotonin you brought to my life. The absolute of highs of being in your life and your world is what kept me hooked. You can only imagine the withdrawal I felt when you no longer wanted me. I felt invincible being with someone as infamous as you. Whether introducing me to your friends and sister was a strategy or not, it sure worked. It was the idea of being with you that held me. Then there was you. In your imperfectly perfect little world, not a single care of the repercussions of your actions because you were just letting life happen to you. I do envy your ability to do that. But I also believe that it is an act to hide something deeper and darker within you. You showed vulnerability towards me and showered me with lovely messages and gifts. I still have the cheap scratchy record you bought me. I don’t ever listen to it but it’s still there, sitting on my shelf in alphabetical order. Very representative of this attraction I feel towards you. Strangely aware of it but never quite acknowledging it. Until now...

Here’s my verdict. You took a small part of my soul for some unearthly reason. I will forever remember the good times as well as the hurt you caused me. As pathetic as I was for the first couple of months post break up, I believe they were just as much formative. I have come to the conclusion that I need to truly focus on myself and doing things that make me happy. It might take a while before I succumb to another man again. But what I know is I am never looking back. So now I let you go. I send my love to you and wish you all the best for the future. :)

2 notes · View notes

estrxlar · 3 years ago

Text

The Ghost Of You

03 - Music Room 3007

Chapters songs:

*Dagger; Slowdive

On The Level; Mac Demarco

F song; Strawberry Guy

^^^ when including * in chapters next to a song, that means it is a song that will be performed in the chapter.

———

— Y.L. Perspective

"Sunshine girl is sleeping. She falls in dreams alone," sings Toruku in a calming tone into a microphone, along with the strumming of a guitar. "And me, I am her dagger. Too numb to feel her pain."

"The world is full of noise, yes. I hear it all the time. And me, I am your dagger. You know I am your wound." I join in, adding onto his

The words we sang were truly upsetting. About a boy, a lover, who is aware he's hurting the girl he loves. I couldn't compare any relationship I'd ever been through to those lyrics.

Although one had always caught my eye: "I didn't really lose you, I just lost it for a while." It was easy to automatically think of the boy I was duetting with when we covered this; for some time now, Toruku has had small feelings for me.

One of the things that repelled me from a relationship with him was the idea that it would end horribly, and that it would potentially ruin our relationship.

Not to mention how much drama that would cause for two other unproblematic teenagers who were only trying to make a living off of their talent: Hikishi and Giki.

But today wasn't about what would happen between the two of us— today was her day.

"I thought I heard your whisper, it happens all the time." And with that, the song is brought to an ending, followed by my gaze met with the blonde boy.

"That was, once again, better than before. But I feel as if it's missing something." He explains, as he removed the wooden instrument from his arm and leaned it against the bean bag he sat in.

Music room 3007 contained the following: I couple of bean bag seats, a coffee table, a vending machine, almost every instrument in existence in an extra storage room, tools used to record and analyze music, and posters + records we kept throughout the years.

Truth is, music room 3007 wasn't even really a part of the school anymore. Sure, it was still on maps and the district still paid the electricity, cable, and water bill. But barely any students or teachers paid much attention to it, for it was stuffed behind the gyms, which were two large buildings that would block out any view of the smaller one that stood behind it.

'I hope Sugawara won't have any problem with finding this place.' I think to myself, as I stand from the chair to turn the camera and microphone off.

We would set up different amps, microphones, and cameras when recording a cover of a song. This time, it was a basic acoustic from 1993, named 'Dagger' by Slowdive.

After turning it all off, I plop back onto the cushion. "I think we've don't this quite enough times already, 'Ruku. We should upload it already and get on to the second song. I mean, we've been here a whole hour trying to perfect 'Dagger'." I say, removing my uniform's blazer, and throwing it across the coffee table. Next came my tie, and I unhooked the first two small buttons of my white collared shirt. The music room got hot when so many electronics were in use.

"Maybe you're right. We should probably get onto another song." He replied, running his hands in the bridge of his nose and down his neck.

I quickly stand up from my chair and stand behind him, leaning onto his shoulders. "I think you're just tired. Are you sure you wouldn't wanna go home?"

Toruku runs a hand up my arm, patting my shoulder, then sighs heavily. I couldn't imagine how tired he must be after today. His thoughts must've been wearing him down. "Yes, I'm sure. Besides, I don't wanna leave you all alone."

"No need, Sugawara will help me get home, remember?" I ask him, followed by a moan of protest. It worried me that Sugawara and Toruku most likely wouldn't get along, especially since both seemed so compatible at first.

Both his hands leave mine and lay in his lap. "And what's with this Suga guy, Y/n? Is he your buddy?" His voice echoed through the band room, stabbing the back of my brain while I think for an answer that wouldn't sound suspicious. I would say no, but who knew what the future could hold.

"I dunno. But he means no harm! At least I think so.." Tired from squatting, I lift to stand on both feet properly. Toruku slides his hand away from my figure and brings it towards his face. It covers his mouth as he once again sighs. "You seem tired after today, Ruku. Is it because of Moku?"

Hopefully, I hadn't overstepped any boundaries with what I had said. Hopefully, I was remotely correct about why he looked so down. "Yeah, it is. I won't act as if it doesn't bother me because I know it bothers you too. Although it's been three years, I still feel very guilty for going on without her."

'At least he knows I'm here with him.' I thought, moving to the bean bag I had been in just a few moments ago. By her, I meant Torukus passed girlfriend, and my best friend: the reason I practically stopped living at the age of fifteen. Honestly, Toruku and I weren't even really that close. I knew her as her boyfriend and he knew me as her best friend. And as close as we were to her, we were never friends. Moku's death only brought us closer to each other, stirring up the beginning of a rock band.

"I know what you mean. I do. Thankfully, this birthday of hers went better than the last two, wouldn't you say?" I ask, leaning on my elbows that sat on my knees.

"Definitely. The previous ones all ended up in fights and long makeups. I guess we're just more laid back about it now," He explains, getting up from his seat, and browsing the instruments that were hung on the wall. His fingers wrap around his belt loops as he stands. "I feel bad for getting over her so quickly."

"I know exactly what you mean. Never forget that I'm right here next to you, Toruku. That we've gotten through this together instead of alone. Although I wish you had talked to me more when it had first happened, I was all alone!" I chuckle at the last part, even if it wasn't funny at all. "I think the life we made out of our relationship has turned out for the better. Look where we are now: moving to American in about a year to sign to a label. Wouldn't she be proud we've gotten so far?"

"Maybe you're right," Toruku says, leaning against the back wall. His hair danced over his eyes barely, as they stared right at me. "Maybe you should hit up Toru and Hajime, ask how they're doing. They went through this too, you know."

"Yeah, I know. I haven't because I'm afraid of what they'll say, or if they even say anything at all. They're both a part of a very different social class after all. If anything, I'll probably get a simple thumbs up on my message." My voice grows low, expressing my tiredness from this conversation already.

Toru and Hajime were two other people that used to be in my friend group with Moku throughout our childhood. Both were loud and expressive and played volleyball, but they were also very kind and friendly towards Moku, Toruku, and me. Once middle school had started, the five of us grew closer and closer by the second. We joined volleyball clubs, hung out at our houses practically every day, and grew popular throughout the years. But once Moku had passed, we all fell apart. She was what held us together after all.

Both Hajime and Toru decided to go to another high school, and Toruku and I went to another. After that, we hadn't heard a single word from them.

"It's worth a try, Y/n. We wouldn't want to seem inconsiderate." Toruku says as he pulls out a pack of cigarettes from his pockets, as well as a lighter. After lighting one, the smoke leaves his mouth slowly, as he continues. "I wish you would at least try to make amends between them. You were closer to them than I ever was."

"I'll try. Just not now."

———

After another hour of practice with Toruku, the two of us stood silent on our phones while we waited for Sugawara. Something told me that he had gotten lost. Either that, or he just forgot about me, which I wouldn't blame him for.

But right when I was about to tell Toruku that we should go home, a message from an unknown number had shown up on the top of my phone screen that alarmed me.

[Text Message: ###-###-####]

Hey, I can't find the music room. It's not on the school campus. Either that, or it's the most invisible classroom ever brought to this school.

[Reply to ###-###-####]

I'm assuming this is Sugawara? Sorry, I don't have your number saved. If otherwise, the wrong number.

After the second the message gave me a preview, I fully entered the screen. It had a profile picture, but not a contact name. Although, that was my very first-year-like of me to be irresponsible. [Sugawara] read the title after I'd edited it, and nothing more. Only a few brief messages that we had just sent to each other.

Sugawara

Hey, I can't find the music room. It's not on school campus. Either that, or it's the most invisible classroom ever brought to this school.

I'm assuming this is Sugawara? Sorry, I don't have your number saved. If otherwise, the wrong number.

Actually, right number! But seriously... I have no idea where the hell you are. Is it off-campus? I might just cry if I don't figure this out. I've been at it for a solid ten minutes.

Ten minutes?? Damn boy, you could've just asked to meet me in the cafeteria or something. Toruku and I have been waiting here for a while as well.

Sorry!!

No need to apologize.

- you have started sharing your location with {Sugawara}-

Thanks. See you in a bit.

After discussing where I was hanging, I decided to look more into this saved contact. 'Had I really been so close to him as to have discussions with him?' I think as I decide to read a few more messages above our most recent convo. They only consisted of homework answers, tutoring questions, and a few more comments about school festivals and such. A good ten invites to a volleyball game were stored in there as well. I hadn't realized how much he had meant to me just two years ago. Time flies, taking most of your memories with you.

A few more moments went by before a knock came upon the room's entrance door, as well as the voice of someone behind it. "Uhm— hello..? Is this the right room?"

"No, go away," Toruku replies in a deeper, scarier voice as he shuffled towards the door to reveal Sugawara standing there alone with a frightened expression.

Suga sighed, putting a hand over his chest while he smiled. "That gave me a heart attack." He says, fixing his eyes towards my sitting figure. "Ready to go?"

I nod, lifting from my seat and stretching out my arms while yawning loudly. "God, I'm tired," I mumble to myself, gathering my bag and the tie and jacket I had taken off, before slowly walking over towards Sugawara. "Isn't it after practice? Shouldn't you be all tired and worked out?"

"Oh, no. Today was only focused on the new players, which honestly didn't go so well." He explained, finishing with a soft chuckle. Though I could tell it was filled with disappointment, for the way he looked down on the floor was purely depressing.

But quickly steered the conversation another way to distract him from it; that was the least I could do. "Oh, well, today it was just Toruku and me. But thankfully we just recorded some extra vocals so we didn't have to record the rest of the teams' jobs."

Sugawara distracts himself, taking small glances around the room as I explain to him what we did. He observes the different colors and pictures on the walls, the furniture we helped ourselves to, and the instruments gathered onto the wall. "It looks quite comfortable in here. To be honest, I'm surprised that the school even lets you decorate this place all by yourselves."

"They didn't, they just don't know about it. It's quite convenient if you ask me.." I mumble, shuffling from one foot to the other. What I said was no lie, we were truly blessed to have had a room to ourselves here on campus. If it wasn't for the band teacher who had shown it to us, we probably would've spent our practice time in a garage where there's no AC or comfortable floors.

Meanwhile, Toruku explained to Sugawara the reasoning behind each decoration, I check the timing. It was 6:00 PM, just in time for my mother to get home from work.

"Should we get going?" I ask the grey-haired boy, as he's brought back to reality. He and Toruku sharply turn, pausing their supposedly intriguing conversation, as he nodded to my question.

"I guess so. Well, thank you for showing me this place, I never would've discovered it if it wasn't for you two." Sugawara states, bowing towards the blonde boy with a cigar.

"Alright, I'll catch you later, Y/n. And it was nice meeting you today, Sugawara." After I have a small hug to Toruku and said my goodbyes, Suga and I were out the door.

Our walk began with the two of us climbing down a few stairs, and jogging towards where the sidewalk actually began. From there on, it was easy getting towards the main part of campus, and walking home would be a piece of cake. For Sugawara, I mean.

"So, do you walk home every day?" I ask, tightening my hands around my bento box. The silence between us rested heavily on my chest; not a single word left his mouth.

But it may have been because he was stuck in his own little world, for soon after my question, he blinked his eyes a couple of times and cleared his throat. "Oh, no— not really. I only walk after practice when I stay late. But on free days, like in the morning, I ride the bus."

Nodding, I explain my way of getting to and from school as well. "Me too. Well, usually my mother would drive me before school even started. Either that or I would ride my skateboard and hide it in some gutter. You know how angry the school gets about skateboards." I laugh, hoping he'd approve of joking with school rules. But knowing Sugawara, he probably already knew I bend some.

"Ah, yes. That's convenient. But how far did you live before moving into [Neighborhood]? Surely not too far, right?" He questions, looking down at me for an honest answer.

I widen my eyes at this, making my answer to his questions obvious already. "Uhm.. no! Just a mile and a half away, not a big deal.." My head turns the other way while I giggle at Sugawara's shock. It wasn't a big deal for me at all, I didn't mind getting the few extra steps in the morning. As for him, he must have not had to walk that far every day to understand. I didn't blame him for being so surprised. It wasn't every day you find someone who voluntarily walks that far.

"Oh— that's.. that's a lot! I'm sorry that you had to do that. It must have been hell! But thankfully you have someone to join you on transportation, right?" Sugawara gives me side-eyes, as a smile appeared on his pale face.

"Yeah.. you're right." My sentence runs low in the cold, shaking as I shift from the sidewalk to the road. The pavement felt hard and slippery due to the transition from winter to spring, yet it was still freezing outside.

"You know... it was strange bumping into you today. To be honest, I feel like I'm fifteen again. I think that's just how you make others feel, you know?" My words come out abruptly, but I didn't mind. After today's long day all I wanted was one honest conversation.

Thankfully, Sugawara felt the same I did. "Spending time with each other must have brought back lots of memories, even if they were small." He says to me, observing the way my feet jumped from the curb to the street.

The feeling he brought was like a scent from years ago when you're a little kid. Whether you're reading by a window, or running through a meadow, you'd forgotten it ever even tickled your senses.

"It's kind of strange. Even if we weren't best friends, you still meant a lot to me. I'm wondering whether or not you're still the same, and if that could be brought back." I explain, drawing out my arms to make a tree-like pose while I played hopscotch with the roads. The keychains that hung on my badge made a 'clunk!' noise against the ID, meanwhile, I discussed. "We've both changed so much, Sugawara."

"You're right, we have. But for the better, you know? I think at the moment I'm mentally healthier than in the past year. And as for you, I think anyone can see that. I don't mean that your time of grief was a mistake, but I'm happy that you've been nicer to yourself."

"Yeah, me too." My words stutter, interrupted by the loud engine behind me. Sugawara and I quickly turn towards the noise, widening our eyes at how close the vehicle was. Suddenly, an ear-piercing honk is signaled from the driver, and I'm quickly pulled from in front of the car to under a streetlight in one's arms.

The action is hasty and happened in just a split second, but enough to save me from being run over. Barely comprehending what had just occurred, I freeze in place just like the slippery road. And as the car honks off, I'm left, once again, alone with Suga. Only this time, uncomfortably in his arms.

Lightning travels down my back once I realize I was being held by a stronger, warmer body. Both my arms were being tightly held by his, and my body barely being separated from his by an inch. I stared right into his eyes, as he did so as well.

"Y/n, you. you've got to be careful. Be careful."

Sugawara's words ring in my ears, as I rapidly blink to regain consciousness. Immediately after, a scatter to search for my school bag, which was thrown only a few feet away from me. After retrieving it, I quickly stand onto my feet and turn to Suga, who's already prepared to continue our walk.

"I'll be careful."

With that, the two of us continue our journey towards home in silence once more.

I've gotta be careful with Sugawara.

——

Thanks for coming back to read :) I know my story is crappy but I've only been writing for a little so you could understand why. Please please vote for my chapters, thank you.

- star

1 note · View note

katherinemallory · 4 years ago

Text

#3 The departure

Hell is empty and all the previous chapters are here: #1 #2

I couldn’t believe I had overslept. When I looked at my alarm clock, it was a few minutes after 9 A.M., meaning I was nearly late to my medical.

Quick, I murmured to myself. I had less than half an hour to wash and dress up, so I didn’t have enough time to eat a proper breakfast.

When I was drinking my everyday cup of Earl Grey, I checked my phone just to notice one unread message. Damn, I thought, it could have woken me up, if my phone wasn’t on silent mode again... The text message has been sent from an unknown number:

Thanks for spending the evening with me. Now don’t let M scare you. Good luck, Kath.

The message amused me. So, he knows my phone number already, I thought, trying to remember if I ever gave it to him. No, I definitely didn’t. That’s the kind of things they teach you at the SIS: how to spy on a girl you like.

Quick, Kath, I kept repeating, as I tried to brush my hair. After a few minutes I was ready (thank God I’ve never worn any make-up... such a waste of time). I picked one of my black suits, grabbed my coat and ran outside.

I rapidly opened my car’s door - it was pretty cold for a December day in London - and I checked my look in the rear-view mirror. Not bad, I said out loud, as I started the engine. There were 10 minutes left until my medical. Step on it, Kath. Direction: MI6 Headquarters.

I’ve been driving as fast as I could, so naturally I caught the eye of a one younger male driver when we stopped on a red light. I didn’t mean to show off (I just wanted to arrive at the SIS as soon as possible), but the look on his face was quite satisfying.

But my mind was elsewhere. I’ve been still analyzing my date with James Bond... It went far better than I could expect and I had to admit that Bond had made a pretty good impression on me. Let’s sum it up: he’s reasonably older than me (to hell with my preferences, surely Bond was more suitable for a thirty-something woman just like me than a man twice older than her...), he’s witty (this is his greatest quality without a doubt...), he’s bloody handsome (honestly, I’m not very much into blondes... or am I?), he’s a true gentleman (so far he appears to be one - there are not many gentlemen left in this world)... And don’t forget about the charm...

When I finally arrived, I glanced at my watch: two minutes to 10 A.M. Perfection. As I passed by the guards and then took the elevator down for my meeting with Q, I continued to consider Bond as my future life partner.

Yeah, Bond seems to be nearly perfect except for... his womanizing and the fact that we work together. No, Kath, let’s be realistic: you could never be with someone who’s got a never-ending dating history... Not for real... And this service at the double-0 section thing... It also doesn’t augur well.

The amount of time I had spent thinking about Bond surprised me. Before the date I was able to resist the man, but now I wasn’t so sure anymore. Did I really fall for his charms? Damn. It felt really strange.

The elevator’s door opened. I’ve seen a vast "room" full of shelves and any kind of machinery you could think of. The walls were made of brick and the furniture was rather raddled. The "room" had no windows and there was pretty dark there.

A young-looking man approached me.

“Hello. You must be 002, M’s told me about the medical.”

He had short, dark hair, and in the room’s lighting his eyes seemed to be grey. Despite his deceiving appearance, I presumed he was older than me. He was wearing a brown corduroy-collared suit and a red tie, all making him look like someone who dresses elegantly, but only to such extent no one could say he doesn't care for the job. He was smiling.

“I’m your Quartermaster,” he continued as I didn’t react to his greeting. “Nice to meet you.”

“Hello, Q”, I replied. “Yes, I’m 002, but you can call me Kath if you wish,” I added politely.

“You know, Kath is not a bad idea,” he said, “I’m not a big fan of all this official stuff.” He paused for a while, glancing around the room as if he was looking for something. “Shall we get started?”

He picked up his glasses from one of the shelves and we went through a very long corridor. It turned out that Q took me to a small room with a single chair in the middle, and a few computers on the ground. There was also a desk and some lever arch files lying on the floor. I sat on the chair, ready for the upcoming instructions.

“I will have to ask you to take off your jacket,” said Q, “and roll up the right sleeve of your shirt.”

I did as requested while Q was looking through my files.

“It seems you’re fit as a fiddle.”

“That’s the job,” I quipped, but stopped smiling when I saw a machine that resembled a huge driller. Q was holding it in his right hand. “What is it?” I asked.

“Nano-technology. It allows us to monitor your movement anywhere,” he said and paused, looking into my eyes. “I’m afraid this will hurt a little...”

“It’s alright. Do it qui...”

I didn’t finish my sentence in time. I couldn't, because I felt a strong prick that made me dizzy.

“OUCH!” I yelled, and immediately I had a scowl on my face.

“I’m sorry, Kath. It’s all over now”, he said as he gently stroked my shoulder. Then he gave me a cotton swab. “Hold it there for a few minutes and follow me. It’s time for the more pleasant part.”

We went through another long corridor made of brick walls. After a few minutes, I had absolutely no idea where I was. I felt like I was lost in a some kind of labyrinth.

“Here we are”, Q announced when he unlocked some colossal metal door. He seemed to be excited when we stepped into another strange-looking room. There was nothing there but all kinds of wardrobes. Q opened one of them and chose a black box from the middle shelf with the note "002" written on it. “Open it”, he encouraged me, smiling.

“Wow!” I exclaimed. I’m sure I sounded like a little girl who was finally allowed to unwrap her Christmas present. “I *love* it!”

“Who wouldn’t?” asked Q, still smiling. “The Walther PPK/S 9 millimetre short. It’s been coded to your palm print, so only you can fire it.”

“Thanks, Q,” I said, still in delight. “Anything else?”

“No, that is all. It was nice to have met you. Good luck, Kath.”

There he was: standing in front of me, with his hands on his hips and a smile all over his face. Even though my mind was a mess at that time as I had many doubts about certain people (about *that* one person, to be more specific), I knew one thing for sure. Q is the most lovely guy of them all.

“See you later in January,” I replied and hesitated. “And, Q... have a wonderful Christmas.”

...

After the medical, I headed to the M’s office. The hallway on the last floor was full of people walking around and carrying some documents.

“Morning, Eve,” I said, while opening the first door. “Such a busy time of the year... Can I see M?”

It was really nice to hear her sweet, warm voice.

“Morning, Katherine. Just a second,” she replied and picked up the phone. “Sir, 002 is here.”

I noticed how patiently her eyes observed a little white light above the leather maroon door, with the phone still near her ear. When the light disappeared, Eve allowed me to come inside.

“Morning, sir,” I said and stopped by the door. I saw Mallory sitting in one of the leather armchairs next to this desk.

“Morning, 002,” he replied as he stood up to greet me. “Please, have a seat,” he said in his semi-friendly manner, but to me his words still sounded like an order.

I sat in front of him on a huge old sofa. The natural lighting made me focus on his clothing (again...). He was wearing a deep sky blue shirt and a dark grey suit trousers. His jacket was draped over the chair that was standing behind his desk. I tried to memorize his every move when he straightened his navy tie. He made sure the tie looked perfect, and then Mallory’s right hand landed on one of his braces. My supervisor looked surprisingly good for a brief appointment with his two double-0 agents.

“Very conscientious of you to check your e-mails, 002,” M said curtly and pointed to some documents that were lying on a coffee table. “Your medical record’s fine. Q has already assured me that you’re ready.”

He looked at me in a way that only a supervisor could look at one of his subordinates. I felt obliged to reply.

“Yes, sir, I’m ready.”

“Good,” he commented in his cold voice, and stood up as the maroon door opened suddenly. “002, meet 005.”

I turned my head and couldn’t believe my own eyes. What is more, I couldn’t accept my reaction to what I’ve just seen. My first thought has shocked me. A woman?

There was a slim female standing in front of me. She was probably a bit older than me, but it didn’t change the fact she was stunningly beautiful. Her light blonde hair was longer than mine - down to her shoulders - and she was wearing a black suit, just as me. I was surprised that I immediately started to compare myself to her.

She extended her hand.

“002,” she said, giving me a small, but warm smile. “I’m looking forward to working together.”

“005,” I replied, shaking her hand. “The feeling’s mutual.”

“Well, so don’t mind me,” taunted Mallory, clearly irritated by our short conversation. “Please join us, 005. We are about to start.”

005 sat next to me on the sofa. I usually didn’t get jealous of other women, no matter how good they looked like, but this time it felt a little weird. I wasn’t comfortable sitting in front of Mallory with a woman who was far more attractive than me, but luckily he didn’t seem to notice any changes in my behaviour. For him, we were just another pair of double-0s going on a mission together. He didn’t care about our looks. What interested him was how we would cooperate.

“You leave tomorrow for Geneva,” he stated, “and will remain there as long as necessary. Although I do *not* think you’ll need more than two weeks to finish the case,” his voice sounded more and more stern with each sentence. ”Your mission might turn out as incredibly dangerous, even though right now it appears just the opposite...”

Bond was right, I thought. M tried to scare us. Perhaps he just wanted to make sure we would take the mission seriously, but why the lecture? We knew everything we needed to know from the files.

I got distracted, while staring at Mallory’s hands going up and down his braces. I recognized he didn’t wear a wedding ring. Maybe he wasn’t married after all...?

Out of the blue, someone has cleared his throat. I glanced at Mallory’s face and then realized he was looking directly at me with those exceptionally green eyes.

“Are we clear about the rules, 002?” huffed Mallory. He sounded quite offended.

“Yes... sir,” I stammered.

He gave me a disapproving look and then resumed.

“Your liaison awaits you in your hotel in Geneva. He’s aware of your arrival... and I need hardly remind you that you’re expected to report daily.”

“Yes, sir,” said 005.

“That’s all for now,” announced Mallory as he stood up. He went up to his desk.

“Good luck.”

...

When we got out of the M’s office, Moneypenny wished us luck as well. 005 turned to me.

“Let’s meet at the airport. We’ll talk about everything tomorrow.”

“Seems reasonable,” I added. “The name’s Katherine, by the way.”

“See you later, Katherine. I’m Amanda,” she replied and left the room.

I stayed with Eve.

“You know Eve,” I struggled with words, “I would like to ask you something.”

“Ask anything you want,” she said, hiding her curiosity.

“Christmas are coming... and... I wonder...” I hesitated, “... if the double-0 section ever gave M a Christmas present?”

“No, I don’t think so,” she answered after a few seconds of silence. “At least not since I have been his secretary. The common opinion is that he wouldn’t like that.”

“And what do *you* think?” I asked in a provocative tone, suggesting my view on the matter is different.

“I think it wouldn’t hurt,” admitted Eve.

“Right, because I even have an idea...”

...

I came back home and started packing. I even looked through the case files again while sitting on my bed in my pyjamas. Time passed really quickly the next morning and I was sitting with Amanda on a plane to Switzerland before I knew it.

Our flight was quite pleasant. Amanda turned out to be a very kind companion and it didn’t take long for me to confide in her. I told her *everything* about my date with Bond. It wasn’t responsible at all - I should have known that as a secret agent - but I assume I just needed to vent to someone. We continued the conversation even when we arrived in our hotel in Geneva.

“... and you know, I have no idea what to do. I didn’t want anything from him and now I kept recalling the date and I miss his voice and...”

“Oh, I think you *do* know what you really want,” Amanda interrupted me.

“I do?”

“Yeah,” she said. “If you want my opinion, Bond is not the one you’re interested in.”

“How so?” I asked, still in shock. “I’ve told you every detail of our date. If I am not interested in him, then why I think about him all the time?”

“This has nothing to do with Bond,” Amanda said calmly as she continued to place her clothes in the wardrobe. “You’re a secret agent for God’s sake. You don’t have time for real love. That’s why you think about Bond that much - cause he gave you something you had missed for many months now, a *real* romantic interest.” She turned around and looked at me, “Even if it’s genuine from his perspective, don’t go for it now. You don’t love him. What you feel is temporary.”

I remained silent for a few seconds. Amanda has known absolutely nothing about my crush on Mallory, but she hit the nail on the head.

”You know what, Amanda? I’m going to wait just as you suggest. There’s no need to hurry. If it’s really going to happen, it will.”

“No need to thank me,” she said and started to laugh. “Would you mind if I went to the shower first?”

“No,” I replied. “I’ll report to M.”

I turned on our laptop and started typing:

We arrived at the hotel on time and met our liaison. Nothing suspicious so far, but we’ll keep our eyes open. We’ll look around the place and report again tomorrow.

Yours sincerely,

002.

I hesitated, not sure if I should add any Christmas wishes to my e-mail. No, Kath... remain professional, I thought. Mallory’s going to know we deeply care about him when he receives his gift from the double-0 section. He wouldn’t approve mixing up our private lives with our career lives.

Personally, I wouldn’t mind it... if you know what I mean... I couldn’t stop to think about Mallory since my departure, even though I have gone on a date with James Bond the day before... Bond was on my mind quite frequently in the recent hours, but deep inside I was aware of the fact that my attraction to him was purely physical. And I never followed physical instincts, apart from a very few my weak moments on a very few missions.

With Mallory... it was different. Obviously I’ve found him extremely attractive from the beginning, but that was not the main case here. My boss was so intimidating that I felt paralyzed every time I spent even a brief moment in his presence. But most importantly, I developed a high level of respect towards him. And there has been a recurring pattern in my life: when I respected a man for real, he would often become my fascination, and later on, my love interest.

By the evening I was sure I slowly began to fall in love with Mallory... who was my supervisor. Not a very responsible way to go into the double-0 section. I knew it was pretty stupid... I knew it was unthinkable to develop any kind of relationship with Mallory. It was even unthinkable to have a crush on him, but I couldn’t do anything about it.

I was never a Christmas enthusiast, but... for the first time in my life I felt that I would have loved to spend Christmas in London. I would have loved to see Mallory’s face when he opened his present from the double-0 section. I was sure that Eve was able to get what I suggested just on time, and I wondered if Mallory would want to know who came up with this idea...

I sent my e-mail and went to bed, hoping to have some dreams of Mallory that night.

***

To be continued.

#James Bond #Bond James Bond #Q #miss moneypenny #Gareth Mallory #M #fiction #fanfiction #katherine mallory #james bond fanfiction #002 #007 #mallory #merry christmas #merry christmas everyone

14 notes · View notes

drunk-onsunlight · 4 years ago

Text

Day #7 of Promptmas

Chapter 7: Listen to the fireplace roar

Summary:

Peter is sh00k but Peter and MJ need to be the greatest actor in the planet and prove everyone that their relationship is as real as the snow on a Christmas day.

Read on Ao3

Notes: Trigger Warning: anxiety thougth

Concept: Meeting the family & fake dating at a family holiday party

Dialogue: “What’s Christmas really about” “VENGEANCE!”

December 23rd

MJ was shock, yes, but certainly not as much as Peter. They landed on their building rooftop and MJ felt Peter’s eyes all the time on her, and that’s saying a lot because he was wearing his mask again. She decided to go down the wall to get to their apartment window and soon Peter was doing the same. She noticed that she needed her claws to do it while Peter touched smoothly the walls with his hands. She was definitely asking Peter about his powers later.

“You need to stop looking at me like that. I’m surprised too but we need to go to the Stark’s house in a few minutes” MJ moved to her bedroom, but this time she let her door opened, there was no need to hide anymore

She took some cozy clothes and decided to take a quick shower before changing. Once she was done she packed the cookies and the frosting she made to decorate them with Morgan, on her rush to pack she noticed that Peter was sitting on the couch looking at the wall

“Peter, what are you doing? Why do you still have your suit on? … Peter?” He was in his own little world, she knew it happened when he was stressed or worried about something. "Peter, you ok?” She spoke softly to him

“Mmmm” She took that as a no “Too much”

“Too much of what, exactly?” She decided to sit next to him, maybe just for moral support

“We need to go, set a believable story for everyone. Ned asked me about it and I didn’t know what to answer. He had a bag, right? You mentioned it. He did buy it. You stole money and today you were helping the people not to get hurt. Who’s the Prowler, by the way?”

“Peter I know you have lots of question but we need to go. We can talk about this later. I promise I will give you an explanation. It’s not a bad thing. You need to remember what I told you at the park the other night” MJ knew how it looked for him. She stole money, lots of money, he didn’t know the reason. He saw her twice with Rhino and the Prowler, talking and even he saw them “exchanging” money for some favor maybe. And they have been friends forever, lived together for so long, he said it. For him, she was one of the bad guys.

“What’s our cover story then, for the Starks?” It was the first time he looked at her eyes since they arrived home

“Go get change and we can talk about that on our way there” She didn’t have a plan either. She thought Peter was going to freak out and back out but he didn’t. She wasn’t even sure why she did it. The family story was true but she never cared about their comments enough to have a fake boyfriend

Ten minutes later they were on a taxi to go to the Stark house. She could see Peter checking his phone. Apparently May was trying to contact him after Tony Stark called her to invite her and Happy to the family reunion and told her about their “relationship” and then another round of calls and texts after the fight with Rhino

“May is going to kill me! I have 50 calls and another 40 messages”

“Just tell her that you are good and that we are going to see her soon” MJ was also checking her phone. She wrote her little friend about the new information she had on Doctor Octopus and his friends

“Well, some of her messages are about us. Which reminds me of, what are we gonna do? Mostly about Morgan, she knows we are not together”

“Yes but she kind of confirmed her parents we were in a relationship of some sort so she on the same boat with us. If she helps then we good, but if she doesn’t we will need to tell them the truth”

“Ok. So, how this happened and when? Ned mentioned something about the movie night that he noticed but didn’t wanted to talk about there or something like that”

“What about the movie night?”

“I don’t know! He was rambling and said that but never explained what he meant”

“Well, what if we say we have been dating for a month? Is not that long for everyone to believe it’s fake but long enough to start telling everyone?”

“Sounds good. Are we going to tell them you know who I am?” He looked at the taxi driver to see if he was paying attention to their conversation “You know what I mean”

“Yeah, I get it”

“Wait! We have a problem there. Almost everybody in this reunion knows I am… amm... you know. Except for Betty and you”

“Why just us?” she felt a little bit offended. Weren’t they best friends that trusted each other? Ok, not like she told him her secret but she had been doing this for a few months, not years like Peter have

“It’s not the first time Ned has been caught in a fight and Pepper had some bad experiences too with Tony. We wanted to keep you both save. Happy knows because he works really close to the Starks and May found me wearing the suit in high school. After Washington, remember that?”

“Of course I do. How I never found out?” She took proud of herself for being so observant and she had observed Peter for too long not to noticed anything

“That’s a very good question actually. I was always afraid of you finding out or getting in danger or maybe just observing enough and discovering me”

“I had my suspicions but I guess I had other things in mind” Like her forever stupid crush on him, the decathlon team, her family, finding a good college and a job and now Black Cat. Normal people stuff.

“After Ned and May found out I tried to be more careful around people too”

Peter decided to tell MJ the story of how Ned found him crawling on his ceiling one night, the real reason why he left at homecoming and how he felt guilty for Liz and her family. The he talked about May, how she found out. Her relationship with Happy and the many times Ned helped him during different fights. He was talking about Karen, his AI when they arrived to a huge facility. She knew where they were, the Avenger’s facilities

“Weren’t we having this family reunion at their house? What are we doing here?” Before he answered, he paid for the taxi drive and promised MJ she could pay the drive back home

“This is like home to the Avengers, but the reunion is not exactly here. It’s on a cabin on Tony’s Club, the Coveleigh Club.”

“Show off”

“It’s Tony Stark, he likes to show off a little but he actually does it for safety. What if one of the bad guys finds out the real identities of some avengers are and use that to hurt people? He always thinks of everything. But first, I want to show you something”

“Inside the facilities?”

“Yeap. That’s were my lab is”

“You have a lab? Wait, of course you have a lab, nerd” He was walking through the buildings like he owned the place. His confidence was higher as a superhero and right now he was Peter Parker on a Spider-Man mission, not just Peter. When they arrived to a white, small building he approached a high tech board and talked to it.

“Hi, Karen! I need to go in. Can you open the door for me?” He spoke to the board like it was a person and not some kind of program

“Hi Peter. Can you confirm your password?” the machine answered with a very real voice, not those fake computer generated voices she used to know

“Peter Parker. Favorite young adult” She could see how proud he was on his password, what a nerd.

“Welcome Peter. Have fun in the lab” The glass door opened and he moved to a side and made a move with his hand to let MJ go in first

“Ok. What are we doing here?”

“Don’t you think it’s amazing? I love this place. It’s were I create new formulas for my webs, design new suits, fix my webshooters. Wanted to show you my second home” He was looking at a white board with some formulas on it. The tittle on it was “venom webs?”

“It’s actually really cool. Does Stark help you with these things? The formulas, the suits?”

“Not anymore. He did but now he comes here to mess with me, talk and check how everything is going. He has his own lab, that’s where Morgan goes when she is bored”

“He still designs things for Stark Industries?”

“Yes and no. He is mostly working with Shuri, she is Queen in Wakanda. Together they have health projects to help people with disabilities. A few of the Avengers were the first ones to be part of the project” MJ was shock, she knew about Wakanda and how they helped develop new technologies but never thought the Avengers could have been part of those kind of projects. And not as a nice face to show the project but as patients. Maybe she judged them too hard at a certain point

“That’s really cool”

“Yeah. I help when I can but I’m not that good at medicine” She was looking at the different shelves Peter had. She could see many artifacts that were probably part of his suits. He had a table with something that looked like a glass board in the center of the lab

“You are a genius Peter, you could learn the basics and then probably came up with the cure for a disease that doesn’t exist yet” She placed her hand on the glass and she felt it vibrate under her touch

“Confirmation denied”

“Oh, sorry” She was speaking to Peter but the table spoke again

“Don’t worry. Maybe try again” The AIs weren’t unknown to her but that was actually weird

“Who’s that?” She spoke softly to Peter just in case the AI decided to answer her instead of Peter

“Oh. She is Karen. Tony designed it for my first suit but I moved it to the lab and I report things to her and then she helps me design or adjust fight patterns. Like with Rhino, we record every fight then analyze it and I’m more ready for the next time. Karen, show me the damage I manage to make today on Rhino’s suit, include the modifications on the armor that you detected”

“Ok, Peter. Anything else?” Some lights on the table were blinking and different codes were running through the screen

“Nope, just want to show MJ what you can do”

“Oh. So, Michelle is here? Congrats Peter. Should I record her fingerprints for later?”

“Congratulations?” MJ was very curious about what Karen had recorded to answer like that

“Yes. Tony told me he was going to be deadly old when Peter finally did a move…” Peter pressed a button on the screen and Karen stopped talking

“Did you mute her?”

“Nope. Karen, the graphics. Thanks” The screen started to form a 3D shape of Rhino, after a few seconds it began to divide into parts. The arms, the legs, she could see every little detail on Rhino’s armor. Suddenly she had an idea

“Karen? Show me everything you have on Black Cat” Peter’s eyes got bigger when she finished the sentence but couldn’t do anything. Karen was already forming new elements in 3D.

The central image was her on the leather suit. She recognized the image from the park the other night. When she placed herself behind Peter, Karen was scanning her. Next to her image there were different descriptions, most of them with question marks. He was right, he didn’t know much about Black Cat.

“Retractile claws, mountaineering equipment, ice skate, not her real hair, not her real voice. Very observant, Peter. Yes, I have retractile claws. Yes, I use mountaineering equipment but is slightly modified for my purposes. Definitely not my real hair or voice. What do you mean with the ice skate thing?”

“Amm…” He was scratching his neck like he did every time he was nervous “The day we went ice skating you did a flip on the rink and then you did the same flip but on a building wall. When I saw Black Cat doing it I remembered you doing it on the ice rink, so I told Karen to search for the flip you did and collate the data with Black Cat’s flip. But guess what Karen, we found our Black Cat and no need for those things”

“Do you want me to delete the Black Cat file, Peter?”

“I don’t know. Do you want me to delete it, Em?” Peter was looking directly at her eyes and she actually considered what it could mean for her to be part of his official records or the Avengers records. Maybe she didn’t like the idea of being on the radar but maybe her little friend wasn’t wrong either, she needed help every once in a while

“Karen?” She made a decision while looking at Peter’s brown eyes

“Yes, Michelle?”

“Can you add to Black Cat that her real identity is Michelle Jones?”

“Will do” She turned to the graphics again and saw the ‘Real Identity’ item that had a question mark change to her name

“Thanks, Karen. And you can keep my fingerprints for next time. I think we should go. They are waiting for us” She started moving to the door without looking at Peter when she felt his hand on hers. She stopped in her tracks and turned to see him looking at her

“Thanks. And you are more than welcome to my lab any time you need. You have pretty nice tech but I know it can improve. If you want, you can design more things here, or improve what you need” He was still holding her hand and began to massage her knuckles softly.

“I’ve never designed anything, actually. I have some help with that, thanks for the offer too. Maybe one day I will introduce you to the guy who helps me doing this” He released her hand and put it on the pocket of his jeans

“Oh. Yeah, that would be nice”

He walked past her and opened the door for them to go out. After he locked the glass door, they walked in silence through the facilities until they arrived to an open area. She didn’t see any cars or vans that could take them to the Club Peter mentioned before

“Am I missing something? Where’s the car?”

“Let me send a quick message” after a few minutes she heard it

“Are you kidding me?”

“What do you mean?”

“A helicopter?” The sound was louder by the second

“It’s a long way on a car. On the helicopter we will be there in a few minutes” His soft smile made her stomach turn a few times. How he managed to do that? She wasn’t sure

Peter was right, the helicopter flight lasted a few minutes from the facilities to a huge club with a central building, an Olympic pool, a beach and a golf course. The cabins were close to the club but not enough so the people weren’t going to bother the ones on the cabins. And they weren’t “normal cabins” they were luxury cabins. They stopped at a huge cabin, with three floors and wood walls. On the door a “Merry Christmas” sign to welcome them. She felt more and more nervous every second they had to wait for someone to open the door. Maybe they shouldn’t be doing this, maybe it wasn’t worth it and she should apologize and go home and then spend the rest of the winter break with her family, yeah that would be good. While she was planning to run away, the door opened in front of them to a very smiley May.

“Peter! You’re alive!” she pulled him so hard for a hug that they almost fell down

“May, I’m fine. Sorry for not calling, I was a little busy” May let Peter go and turned to look at her

“Yeah. Busy with your girlfriend. I’m still mad you didn’t tell me, you know how much I love MJ, Peter” Ok, time to act, she was stocked now with everyone in this huge cabin for Christmas. She could totally do this, well, she hoped so

“Yeah. Ammm, we were fixing some things back home” Peter was scratching his neck again and that was making her nervous

“The good thing is that your bags are here already. By the way, MJ your cookies are adorable! Morgan is really happy to see you both”

“Hi May” She knew May for a really long time but she couldn’t help but feel like she was meeting everyone for the first time again

“Come on in! We have hot chocolate if you want!” May hug her and took their hands in each of hers and guide them inside the cabin. A huge living room with a 8’2” Christmas tree welcomed them.

Sitting on the couch she saw some old faces and some new ones. Morgan was the first one to jump from her spot next to the tree and ran to them. May released Peter’s and MJ’s hands second before Morgan crashed against Peter.

“Hey, peanut!” Peter lifted Morgan from the ground and made them turn around a few times before placing her back on her feet. MJ realized Peter lifted Morgan like that every time they saw each other. How she never realized that this was not something ordinary someone could do? She doesn’t know. Now that she knew who Peter was, it all made sense

“Hi, big bro. What took you so long?”

“Ammm. I got caught up in something at the facilities” After he finished his explanations to Morgan, the girl turned to MJ and looked at her with a little bit of mischief in her eyes

“Should I call you big sis now?” Morgan said her welcomes loud enough to make everyone laugh while MJ was blushing

“Hi, Morgan” MJ closed the distance between the girl and her to mess with her hair a little to make Morgan ran away from them

“Well, MJ you already know Uncle Happy, May, Ned and Betty” Morgan took the place of hostess

“Hey, Happy. What’s up, Loser? Hi, Betty” Everyone greeted her really quickly from the couch

“But you don’t know my mom and dad!” Morgan took MJ’s hand and they walked through the cabin until she was standing in front of the Starks

“I’m really happy to finally meet you, Michelle. Peter and Morgan talk a lot about you. And you are right Morgan, she is beautiful” Pepper extended her hand to greet her. Her soft smile and warm eyes calmed MJ’s nerves. “I’m Virginia, but everyone calls me Pepper”

“It’s a pleasure to meet you” MJ always heard Peter expressing his admiration and respect for Pepper but he could never quite said why. Now she got it, Pepper was the kind of woman to inspire others and not even noticed

“Finally!! I could have sworn you were in Ned’s and Pete’s imagination if I wasn’t seeing you in person now. You know who I am but no formalities. Call me Tony” Apparently MJ was speechless in front of Tony Stark, not that she was that impressed by him. She just knew how important he was for Peter, the man almost adopted him and saved the planet a few times or whatever. And her opinion on him had changed a little. Now she was literally speechless

“Nice to meet you, Tony” MJ managed to say a sentence after a few uncomfortable seconds after Tony spoke.

“I need the full story later, Pete” MJ was so nervous about meeting the Starks she didn’t notice that Peter was standing really close to her, so close his right hand was on her right shoulder.

“Hi, old man” Peter dropped his hand from her shoulder and moved forward to hug Tony. When they stopped hugging, Peter’s hand was back on her shoulder like it was something they did on a daily basis

“We need to talk about today too. There were a lot of new people, wasn’t it?” MJ knew what Tony was talking about. Today’s fight between Rhino and Spider-Man was in every possible channel and she bet he saw every bit of it

“Yeah. Some new, others surprisingly not so new” Peter looked at Ned and then back at Tony. MJ wondered if she needed to pretend here that she didn’t knew who Peter was because of Betty. She was the only one that didn’t know his superhero identity

“Well, maybe you should go talk to Tony while I say hi to Ned and Betty” MJ still needed to check if Ned was ok with her and the Rhino thing.

“What a wonderful idea Michelle. Let’s talk while your girlfriend checks on everyone else” Peter moved away from her but stopped after a few steps

“Come here for a moment, please?” Peter took MJ’s hand and dragged her close to the Christmas tree and then whispered to her ear

“Should I keep the information of Black Cat for myself? It’s totally up to you because I know he will ask me about me going with Cat after the fight” MJ already took her decision on Peter’s lab when he asked to delete or not her info.

“You can tell him. I need to check on Ned, he is more important right now. And I know he must know some things about me that are not to flattered but I will work on that later” She made sure to spoke softly back to him so no one could hear them

“Ok. See you in a few” They looked at each other’s eyes and MJ’s stomach did a flip from how close they were. It was annoying how often that was happening. Peter turned around and left after Tony

“Ow. You guys look so cute together!” MJ came out of her mind as soon as she heard Morgan’s words.

“Speaking of cute things. We need to talk about something, Morgan”

“I don’t know what’s that but we can talk about whatever you want, big sis” Morgan’s innocent face didn’t fool her

“Dork, can we talk for a moment?” Important business first. She needed to know Ned didn’t hate her

“Yes. Of course” MJ saw an entrance that could lead to another room so she headed there without actually knowing where they were going. Soon, she found out in was the kitchen. A huge kitchen. It was probably as big as Peter’s and hers apartment.

“So… why are we here, MJ?” Ned was curious as if he didn’t know what they needed to talk about

“You know why Ned” She was trying to act casual but it wasn’t working

“Ok yes. I know and I’m really excited! You guys dating plus Peter being Spider-Man and you!!! YOU ARE BLACK CAT!”

“Ned stop shouting!” How on earth he was able to keep Peter’s secret? She had no idea if he acted like this

“Wait… Peter said something about Black Cat stealing money and that he needed to pay more attention to here because of that” Ned started to pace on the kitchen while talking “Are you stealing money? Why? I know you are not rich but you work part time as an assistant on a firm, do you need money for something? We can help you”

“Ned!” He stopped talking and walking, then looked at her with a million questions on his eyes “I know you have lots of questions but this is not the right place to talk about this. Nobody knows, well, just three people know”

“Who else?” MJ wasn’t ready to tell everyone who helped her doing all of this. The real reason she was stealing money from some bastards, the reason she didn’t trust law or justice to take care of this

“Peter, Tony Stark and you. They are talking about that right now” It wasn’t entirely a lie but she knew it wasn’t the full information either

“Betty doesn’t know? I thought she knew about this. You both share everything”

“What? No. It’s not like I got home one day and called Betty “Hey mate. Guess what, now I have a black suit and some magic tricks to go out patrol in the middle of the night. How was your day?” That’s not how this works. You know that” She knew she was speaking to quickly but Ned made her a little anxious about the whole situation

“Yes, that’s true. Sorry”

“It’s ok Ned. What I was actually really concerned was about you. How are you? I saw your hands and knees bleeding after Rhino launched the car at the crowd” Ned’s face showed the panic he felt hours ago in the Rockefeller Center

“Yeah. My hands are good but one of my knees not so much. I had to tell Betty what happened, well… kind of, and she bandaged me. There was an embedded glass and she had to remove it with tweezers, she wasn’t having fun with that”

“I’m sorry, but you ok? It’s the gift ok, too?”

“Yeah. It’s a little painful but it’s fine. And the gift it’s perfect too. Mr. Stark helped me hide it in one of the rooms as soon as we arrived so, all good” The happiness shown in his face was like nothing she have ever seen in Ned. It was beautiful to watch

“MJ!” She heard Peter scream from one of the rooms, she didn’t know exactly where she was calling her or why. She managed to went back to the living room they were in first and found Peter with worried eyes

“You ok?” What if Tony hated her now for being Black Cat and told Peter to kick her out of the cabin? Not that she cared what he thought about her he didn’t knew why she was doing what she did and if he wanted to kick her out then she wasn’t going to justify herself to him. She knew she was helping people so fuck him

“Oh! There you are. Couldn’t find you and I thought you were gone” What? So no deal with Stark? Damn her anxiety! It always got the worst out of her when under too much pressure

“I was speaking with Ned, remember?” They walked towards each other and found themselves on the main couch.

“All good?” He was worried about Ned too, she knew him too well

“Yeah. What about you?”

“A little surprised but all good. We have the same questions but later” She knew she promised Peter answers and she needed courage to tell him everything. She had kept this for a long time to her and sharing it wasn’t going to be easy

“WE SHOULD DO A BONFIRE!!!” Morgan shouted for everyone to hear her idea. The good thing, everyone agreed with her.

Everyone left the cabin and settled on the sand next to the beach. May and Happy started to stack logs for the bonfire while Pepper and Morgan brought food from the cabin to the outside. MJ and Peter were carrying some tree trunks to serve as chairs for all of them and Ned and Betty brought blankets from the rooms to the beach.

When the bonfire was ready and everyone was comfortable with blankets, Morgan started to prepare some s’mores for everyone. The conversation was flowing around them when Tony interrupted everyone

“Hey Pete, MJ! You guys own us a story. Peter, how did you go from “Oh, MJ is so intelligent and beautiful” to “Michelle Jones is my girlfriend”? We all want to hear that!” They all turned to see them while agreeing with Tony. They wanted to hear a story that wasn’t there because they totally forgot about making something up. Time to improvise

“First of all, I don’t sound like that. Second, I never said any of those phrases” Peter tried to defend himself but no one was buying it

“Maybe the first one at some point during high school, even after that” Ned knew exactly how to fluster Peter and he was killing it. MJ couldn’t help but laugh a little

“I definitely heard it at some point during the last week” Morgan joined Ned’s comments and if MJ was correct, Peter wanted to hide his head on the sand and never go out again

“I’m pretty sure I heard that too”

“May! Can you not help them, thanks” Everyone was laughing and Peter was bright red

“Okey. Enough of bullying my nephew. We all want to hear how this happened and why nobody knew about it”

“Maybe MJ can tell the story” Oh no, he didn’t. Damn, she needed to think fast about some good plausible story

“You will totally regret this Peter” She whispered to Peter’s ear and then turned to look at the bonfire while she started her story, their story.

“Well it wasn’t that long ago, actually. And he didn’t make a move, it was me. He was too afraid and too astonished to ask me so I had to end all of that tension” Peter was blushing even more than before

“Of course it was you, MJ” Betty looked really proud of her

“Was that on the movie night you guys had at the start of winter break or before that?” Morgan provide her with a piece of story they never thought about

“Yes. There” MJ and Peter spoke at the same time

“We were watching the first Christmas movie of the season and you know, it was one of those romantic movies and that set the tone. I thought “why not? I’m not stupid, we like each other like more than friends so it’s now or never and let’s hope for the best” and that was it. We have been dating since that” What an awful story but she didn’t care. It was plausible enough and she read somewhere that when you gave lots of details on a story it was because it was false

“What a shitty story. I want full details of that! What actually was the move you did? Did you say something or kissed him? I need the juicy details, Em!” damn Betty and her journalist mind

“She kissed me. One second I was watching the movie and the next thing I knew was MJ was all over me. She couldn’t resist herself” Peter cut MJ’s answer and now it was her time to blush. Everyone was laughing and cheering at her

“Oh. Holidays bringing people together! It’s beautiful” May was looking fondly at them

“Yes! What’s Christmas really about?” It was the first time Happy made an intervention in the conversation

“VENGEANCE!” MJ’s answer came out with so much force that everyone stopped talking and looked at her. All their faces showed a different emotion between worry and fear “I’m joking!” As soon as she said that, everyone started laughing, except for Peter. He knew she was speaking her mind and that she was deadly serious about her answer

“MJ?” Peter whispered to her while everybody kept commenting on how cute they were together

“Yes?”

“We seriously need to talk about Prowler and Rhino. You can’t fight them on your own”

“We will see that” MJ said it in a soft tone but hard enough for him to know that she was deadly serious about it, she wanted revenge. They were hurting people she cared about and they had to pay for that.

#spideychelle #spideychelle twelve days of promptmas #peter parker mcu #michelle jones mcu #ned leeds #betty brant #may parker #happy hogan #tony stark #pepper pots #pepperony

7 notes · View notes

jungle321jungle · 5 years ago

Text

As Cold As Stone Part Three

Dante Ekan’s newest case is a twenty one year old murder. It’s witnesses have remained silent all this time. So Agent Ekans seeks to change that.

He pokes, he prods, he bluffs, he lies, and he digs too deep.

But maybe the witnesses were silent for a reason.

Ao3

Tagging: @mae-is-ace @ashensanity

~~~~

Part Three

Dee gave a sigh as he entered the room. “You’ve been in here for what, four days?”

Remus Prince gave him a wide smile (despite the large bruises on his face) from where he lay on the infirmary’s bed. “And they were boring as fuck!”

“So you decided to smash your dinner tray into another’s man face to cause a fight?”

“No stupid. I smashed my dinner tray with my dinner on it, into his face to start a fight.”

Dee gave a second sigh, “Did I not tell you that I was going to get you out to show me where the body was? I was just waiting on the paperwork.”

“That sounds more boring than this. And in here I get painkillers!”

“I could tell them not to give you anything.”

The man gave a pout, “Who pissed in your cereal?”

“He was killed here sorta, okay? Can I go back to jail now? It’s cold as balls out here!”

Dee paused overlooking the area. There was nothing horribly special about it. A ring of trees with a decaying stump in the center. As a whole the area was a good distance from where Thomas’ body has been found. There was no way those boys could’ve dragged it that far while still running for their lives.

The killer must have moved it themselves.

But why?

It couldn't have been to keep people away from this area, a clear blood trail was left behind. A message maybe?

“Is there something special about this place?” Dee asked. When he got no reply he turned to see Remus was looking up into the bare trees, “Hello?”

Remus gave a shrug as he looked back down to Dee, “We used to play over here. Over there. All throughout this place. Can we go now? I’m cold.”

Dee rolled his eyes, “Fine.”

~~~~

Dee gave a frown as he walked into his hotel room. It seemed in his eagerness to get going for the day he had forgotten to leave the door hanger out so the maid wouldn’t come.

He moved to the desk and picked up the pile his papers had been put in and began to go through them one by one. While but was not what he had been hoping for, perhaps being forced to put things back in order would give him a chance to reevaluate (and maybe he’d find that one blank sheet that kept popping up to leave a note for the maid with her tip).

After a half hour the room was restored to its former chaotic glory. Papers covering the floor around him spreading outward in a web that made sense only to him.

But the notepad in his hand proved it worked.

Because thanks to needing to go through all the files over again he had found an overlooked detail about Logan Ackroyd. Others in Dee’s position probably would have dismissed it entirely, but if one thing Dee was good at its twisting truth.

“Agent Ekans,” Logan greeted. His face was a blank mask, but his tone showed his annoyance.

“May I sit?” Dee asked motioning to the free chair.

“It is a public space... But may I ask why you are here?”

Dee raised an eyebrow as he sat down, “Because I’m investigating the murder of your childhood friend?”

Dee could already see his patience wearing thin. Good.

“I meant here in this cafe,” Logan clarified. “If you truly needed to speak with me could it not wait until my break was over?”

“I didn’t think you’d want to speak about it in front of your coworkers. So when they told me you’d be here, I came.”

The man gave a tired sigh, “What is it you’d like from me?”

“I was reading up on all of you, and I noticed you had interned at the FBI in college. I was kind of surprised.”

Logan’s attention was on his tea as he stirred it, “I was a forensic science and criminal justice double major. But what does that matter?”

“Well it’s just kind of crazy that of all the departments... you interned with cold case.”

“Given what happened to Thomas I could not help but be interested,” He shrugged before he took a long sip. “Also, I was interested in how past evidence that was preserved well enough could still undergo testing. Thus, that summer program seemed optimal as I wasn’t sure which of my two majors I wished to take the front career wise. And as you can see I ultimately chose forensics. But I fail to see how this is beneficial to you. I doubt you came to speak to me about how we nearly had the same job.”

Dee paused taking in that mask of a face watching him- taking in the face of the man who was analyzing him so critically yet calmly. Before he gave a sigh and rand a hand through his hair- playing into the role he had chosen, “You need to understand that what I am saying is for the case. I respect what you do, and quite frankly if you had chosen differently we would have worked together. But I have a case to work.”

“I understand.”

“Thomas’ body was moved,” Dee stated. “After he was killed. It was a fact never released to the public. And supposedly it was put in files with everything else. And yet despite having all the original documents, that detail is nowhere to be found. When I pieced together that it was moved and got confirmation from the policemen who had responded to the scene, it made me realize those details had been removed.” Dee forced a sigh. “So, given your precious stint at cold case and your involvement in the case I gave to ask... did you alter the files in anyway?”

Logan’s eyes narrowed, “You think I’d hide that?”

“I'm asking for the case.”

“Tell me, why would I do such a thing? That would be protecting the one who killed my fr- who killed Thomas.”

“Because you’re scared,” Dee replied softly to which Logan gave a scoff. “When I spoke to Patton he made it sound as if even to this day that someone is watching him. I got similar feelings from the others too. So if you did do it, then it’s off the record. I just want to help bring the murder in. Logan... if this so called ‘Mister Sir’ is still-”

“I think it’s time you take your leave,” Logan said suddenly. His tone was short, and his voice louder than Dee was sure he had intended. Logan took a breath trying to replace his mask as he spoke again. “I assure you Agent Ekans that I am fine. I can also assure you that I did not violate any policies or commit any crimes.”

“Logan-”

“I have nine minutes left before I must head back. I’d like to spend them in peace?”

Dee gave a sigh before a solemn nod, “Alright. Let me know if you want to talk.”

When Logan said nothing more Dee heads out of the cafe, and thankfully he made it that long without breaking out into a smile.

He was getting somewhere.

And hopefully speaking to Patton Hart again would clarify where that somewhere was.

~~~~

“Agent Ekans,” Patton said with a forced smile as he stepped out of his classroom to meet Dee in the hall. “What can I do for you?”

“I wanted to speak to you about the other witnesses,” Dee started. “Ackroyd specifically.”

Patton raised an eyebrow in confusion. “What about him?”

“You two kept in contact over the years, right?”

“Now and then...”

“Were you aware that in college he had interned for the FBI?”

“Yeah...”

“Good,” Dee nodded. “He was with cold case during that, and I am also aware that pieces of information were removed from the files on Thomas Sanders’ murder... And I was wondering if he ever disclosed anything to you?”

Patton’s mouth opened and closed in surprise, “Logan would never steal anything.”

“I simply need to consider every option,” Dee told him. “And I understand your allegiance to a friend, and your fear of Mister Sir. But I can’t help if you don’t let me.”

Patton’s face went white but he forced another smile on his face, “I don’t know what you’re talking about.”

Dee nodded once and moved to leave, “If he does tell you something, or someone else does... I ask that you let me know.”

“Right...”

It was less than two hours later that the call he had been expecting came.

“You were right Ekans. Records show that Hart texted each of the other witnesses.”

Dee held back a smile, “Even Remus Prince?”

“Yeah, I’ve got his phone here. They're all in a group chat and are planning to meet. You want the time and place?”

“Please.”

~~~~

A few days later Dee arrived about a half hour early to the location.

The meeting was to take place at Logan’s apartment.

Dee sat in his car staring at the apartment building as he watched and waited for everyone to arrive.

“How long are we going to wait here?” Remus groaned.

Dee rolled his eyes. He had learned after picking Remus up from jail, that the man seemed to be more annoying off of drugs. He was quieter overall, but somehow he still managed to be annoying.

“Just turn on the radio,” Dee muttered as he kept his eyes to the door.

Almost fifty min had passed before everyone had arrived. And once they had, Dee waited longer before he pulled Remus along. He ignored the taller man’s grumbles and approached the building. He made sure to ring the landlord's buzzer, and after a quick conversation with the man he was allowed to head for the apartment.

He could hear shouting coming from within as he approached.

“Are you seriously that stupid!”

“What’s stupid is agreeing to come here in the first place!”

“Oooh, may I?” Remus asked.

Dee gave a shrug and stepped away from the door as Remus gave a few loud bangs on the door.

The shouting silenced and there was a pause before footsteps grew closer. When the door opened Dee gave a smile, “I hope I’m not too late.”

Logan’s eyes narrowed, but he said nothing as he allowed Dee and Remus to enter his home. And when they did the other three looked their way.

Virgil was seated on a couch, and at the sight his gaze lowered to the floor. Patton who sat behind him looked surprised, and Roman who was standing threw up his hands in exasperation, “Of course!”

Dee gave a shrug, “I couldn’t help but see that Remus was invited. So I did my due diligence and brought him. Now, might ask for the truth?”

“There is no truth to share,” Virgil stated quietly. “You’re right. We’re being watched-”

“Virgil,” Logan warned but he continued.

“We’re being watched,” he said again. “And not even the FBI can help. Instead you’ve put all of us at risk and yourself. So believe it or not I rather not die, so if you’d take your leave now it would be fucking appreciated.”

“How do you know that I can’t help?” Dee asked him, but Virgil shook his head in reply.

“You can’t. Don’t you fucking listen?”

“He’s just trying to do his job,” Patton tried setting a hand on Virgil's shoulder, but Virgil stood from the couch.

“Do you think he cares?” He yelled back. “Do you think he gives a fucking shit about anyone other than himself? I don’t! What happened in the past is that past! And I want to keep it that way! I was the youngest!” He took a deep breath. “I was the youngest and yet I remember every single detail of how Thomas looked when he stopped fighting back... and I don’t want to watch it happen to anyone else. So I’m sorry Agent Ekans. I don’t care if you have to arrest me, the past is past.”

“So elegantly said,” Remus mocked.

Roman’s eyes narrowed, “You shut up. This is all your fault in the first place.”

Remus gave a casual shrug, as he moved to sit on the floor. “I didn’t tell him to open the case.”

“Why did you start looking into this anyway?” Patton asked him.

Dee raised an eyebrow, “Because I work cold case? I’m given old cases somewhat at random and try to solve them? Oh, and do be aware that currently all of you are guilty of obstruction of justice.”

“Add it to my tab,” Remus waved dismissively.

Dee gave a groan, “Look. I just want to know the truth. Tell me what it is and I’ll be on my way. Who is Mister Sir? And is he the one who killed Thomas?”

“Yes.”

Quite frankly Dee wasn’t sure which one of them had said it. But a pause had followed before all four were yelling at one another each shouting that whomever had spoken was going to get them all killed. Dee watched them silently taking in all the words he could, waiting for the slip up which would inevitably follow.

He had watched, he waited, he listened.

And for a moment his ears perked up at what sounded like a name, but it was lost to the yelling around him. Listening for it to come again, but instead the sound of a child-like voice brought the entire argument to a screeching halt.

“We promised not to tell.”

~~~~

Part Two - Part Three - Part Four

#ascoldasstone #murder mystery #major character death #deciet sanders #logan sanders #virgil sanders #patton sanders #remus sanders #roman sanders #sanders sides #sanders sides fic #supernatural #ghosts

50 notes · View notes

free-snapchat-views-followers · 4 years ago

Text

Snapchat Hack Tool - Free Snapchat Filters and Story Views

Snapchat Hack Generator Snapchat Followers Generator No Survey No Human Verification.Get More Snapchat Followers! The Snapchat Follow button permits your crowd to follow your snaps as you make your Snapchat story. Utilize this catch to assist crowds with connecting with your image, share their own accounts back with you, and make a discourse progressively. The Snapchat Follow button is an astounding method to develop your image voice.

CLICK THE LINK BELOW FOR SNAPCHAT HACK FOLLOWERS,STORY VIEWS AND FRIENDS

https://appspying.com

FREE SNAPCHAT FOLLOWERS: ALL THE POSSIBLE WAYS TO GET FREE SNAPCHAT FOLLOWERS AND VIEWS!

Is it true that you are exhausted with looking through all the web? Do you locate any working strategy which encourages you to get free snapchat followers or free snapchat sees? We know, it gets more enthusiastically to become your Snapchat account each and every day! You are posting cool stories on your Snapchat for over two years and still lack any outcomes? At the point when you will look to any "working" strategy which you found on the web it appears to be that it is as of now dead or extremely immersed! What do you believe is the most ideal approach to do? Obviously to ask proficient advertisers! We have gathered all the most significant and valuable things about getting free Snapchat followers and perspectives: all the working aides and instructional exercises, which were tried by us for a long time, and we are certain that this "Gold Formula" will support your Snapchat with free snapchat followers and free snapchat sees in the least demanding manner for you! Things being what they are, free Snapchat followers - reality? Obviously yes! Numerous individuals are working with their Snapchat profile each day.

They are bringing in enormous cash and having huge quantities of followers and furthermore they without a doubt know which technique is working for them and which strategy doesn't work by any means. Indeed, it is simple for them, since they are "playing this game" over the long haul and they realize that it is truly productive. All in all, what we ought to realize first? - Which strategies are not working by any means! What you ought not do when you are working with Snapchat and need to get free snapchat followers:

1) We exhort you never to believe any Snapchat Hacks – all Snapchat followers hacks are phony! Do you figure, that you will actually discover anyplace working Snapchat hack? Truly? Reconsider! Snapchat is one of the greatest informal organizations these days with ideal shielding strategies against various endeavors and "phony" Snapchat followers hacking apparatuses. Snapchat is a longterm business and we figure they will never let anybody ruin their amazing site.

2) We encourage you to quit doing nasty hashtag techniques and reuploading strategies – they essentially didn't work any longer, since everybody is doing that… So it will make your Snapchat account malicious and you will get nothing from that.

3) Stop scratching free Snapchat followers with various devices - it will make your record red-hailed and afterward prohibited!

4) Be shrewd and characteristic! Begin to think yourself - have a go at consolidating various techniques and instruments and you will discover something delicious!

Begin BOOSTING

SO HOW TO GET FREE SNAPCHAT FOLLOWERS NOW?

You can consolidate all autopilot techniques in a single GOLD SOLUTION and just BOT snapchat network! Make 200000-300000 scratching follow/unfollow snapchat bots and they will increase million of free snapchat followers to you!! While you rest they will do that nasty hashtag follow/unfollow techniques and bring ordinary new perspectives and followers so quick as it is conceivable!

Oooh… .. you lack coding aptitudes… . You didn't have the foggiest idea how scratching and botting functions 🙁 We see… .. Yet, . We know the arrangement!!

FREE SNAPCHAT FOLLOWERS SERVICES

There are two sorts of free Snapchat Followers preliminaries and administrations:

1) Services that state that they can give you limitless free Snapchat followers or free snapchat sees with the uncommon endeavor or Snapchat hack. We are 500% certain, that you should NOT confide in any of that administrations – their principle objective is to take your Snapchat account secret word or to bargain your Snapchat API key, so they could take your record after certain controls and will spam with their phony advertisements your companions and Snapchat followers. So in the event that you would manage such Snapchat counterfeit hacks you will get restricted on Snapchat or lose every one of your followers in light of futile spam.

Snapchat followers Trials – they are working, however they have some insatiable objectives. How about we see nearer what does it mean. How accomplish they work? We know how they work 🙂 They are utilizing one or several amazing workers that are utilizing an uncommon calculation to associate Snapchat API. They are utilizing extraordinary API contents that are making Snapchat accounts, making them normal, doing immersed "follow/unfollow" Snapchat techniques with "scratching famous Hashtags" strategy. So they are producing huge loads of followers totally for FREE PRICE for themselves and afterward after "free" 5-10 followers Snapchat preliminary approach you to pay for them… It resembles to pay for intelligence. You may lose your time and will get several free Snapchat followers from their preliminary – is it a decent arrangement? We think not! We disdain such sort of tricking and a half year prior we made OUR TOOL, which is doing totally equivalent to "Counterfeit FREE" Snapchat followers preliminaries yet totally FOR FREE! Indeed, with utilizing our device once you will get free great many Snapchat followers without spending any single penny! Just proceed to test our free Snapchat followers preliminary and see all the sorcery intensity of free instruments from the Freefollowersboost group! We and more than 20000 alpha analyzers were trying our free Snapchat followers and perspectives generator and now… It is totally prepared! Indeed, we did it and we are happy to report that every individual who needs can utilize it now totally for free! We have 4 major commit workers in New York, Los Angeles, Canada, and China with 180000 Snapchat accounted stacked with huge loads of substance, which are scratching new followers, so you are can make them work for you just with pressing one catch! It's anything but a joke, basically proceed to test our free Snapchat followers preliminary and you will perceive how incredible our instrument is! Snap the fasten and have a good time 🙂

Begin BOOSTING

Keep in mind! Our apparatus will never approach your login and secret word for your Snapchat account! We need the main connect to your username to begin work! Never give anybody your Snapchat login and secret word!

TIPS TO GET FREE SNAPCHAT FOLLOWERS

Presently Snapchat isn't the main apparatus for informing and talking. It is an immense news stage, the "Find" segment of which is utilized by more than 20 media organizations that have exceptional channels on it. Enormous and little media associations utilize the Snapchat Stories work, which permits you to make long recordings by joining photographs and individual recordings as long as 10 seconds in length.

These four hints will assist you with maintaining a strategic distance from regular missteps, and the outcome will interest your followers on Snapchat.

1. Utilize THE MICROPHONE

I saw the narratives distributed in Snapchat by notable news organizations, joined by too low solid and colossal foundation commotion. For telephones, as well, there are a ton of receivers to attempt. Get yourself this. Today. Try not to record a tale about another loud political assembly without an amplifier.

Rode Videomic Me well assists with decreasing the degree of foundation commotion, which frequently ruins covering horse dashing, hustling, celebrations, and gatherings.

2. GIVE PEOPLE ENOUGH TIME TO READ THE TEXT

In the event that you place text on the highest point of the picture, give individuals some an ideal opportunity to understand it.

You can choose how long the picture stays on the screen. Naturally, this time is 2 seconds - not long enough for your watchers to have the option to peruse the vast majority of the writings.

Snap on the number 2 in the lower-left corner - this will offer you the chance to expand the hour of showing of the picture to 10 seconds.

For my writings, it generally takes 5 seconds, yet don't stress in the event that you choose to leave the picture on the screen for a more extended time. Watchers can without much of a stretch go to the following picture - to do this they simply need to tap on any spot on the screen.

3. Utilize THE CONTROL PANEL (SHUTTER REMOTE)

In the event that you don't have a controller, you need to press the shade button on the telephone screen constantly while you are shooting the video. This isn't helpful, it restricts the point of shooting, and likewise, in this position, it is more hard to hold the telephone in a consistent state. The controller Bluetooth shade far off causes you shoot recordings on the off chance that you make stories alone, particularly on the off chance that you utilize a receiver that adds weight to the telephone.

Such control boards are created by a few organizations. CamKix Bluetooth Camera Shutter Remote is reasonable and functions admirably.

4. Approach SNAPCHAT FOLLOWERS TO LEAVE COMMENTS FOR YOU

Snapchat was dispatched as an assistance for companions who need to trade private messages. It works a lot of more awful in the event that you have to get input about your work from a great many followers. As of late composed on Twitter, the endeavor financial specialist Mark Suster: "Snapchat - pointless assistance for two-path correspondence with an enormous crowd."

Adding companions to Snapchat

Clients are presumably acquainted with this technique since it doesn't contrast from the one utilized by companions who are handed-off by messages. For this situation, while your watchers are viewing the video, the visit line is noticeable on the screen.

In the event that in your story you express: "Let us understand your opinion" and add to the companions of every individual who added you, your watchers ought to see how to get in touch with you.

Detriments of the circumstance when you add everybody to companions

Be that as it may, adding to companions each one of the individuals who add you, doubtlessly, sometimes falls short for media associations since it makes their rundown of stories unsatisfactory for use - it will show the narratives surprisingly added to companions. This is like the circumstance where your email address is added to the gathering list, which incorporates the addresses surprisingly who have bought in to your email bulletin.

Contact

Let everybody send you a message on Snapchat

Another approach to get messages on Snapchat is to permit every one of them to send you.

Snapchat Hack Tags: free snapchat filters

free snapchat views

free snapchat app

free snapchat friends

free snapchat spy app

free snapchat download

free snapchat login

free snapchat filters online

free snapchat app download

free snapchat adds and views

free snapchat account with score

free snapchat ads

free snapchat anime filter

free snapchat ad credit

free snapchat app for android

a free snapchat account

create a free snapchat filter

the snapchat free

how to make a free snapchat lens

how to get a free snapchat filter

free snapchat bots

free snapchat business filter

free snapchat birthday filter

free snapchat booster

free snapchat button png

free snapchat button

free bachelorette snapchat filter

free snapchat camera

free snapchat caption remover

free snapchat.com

free snapchat codes

free snapchat contacts

free snapchat chat

free custom snapchat filter

free snapchat download for laptop

free snapchat download apk

free snapchat download for iphone

free snapchat dating site

free snapchat download for android tablet

free snapchat data

free snapchat download for ipad

free snapchat eggs

free valuator snapchat

snapchat free editor

snapchat free edit

free snapchat filters app

free snapchat filters without snapchat

free snapchat for pc

free snapchat for android

free snapchat filter design

free snapchat geofilter

free snapchat geofilter template

free snapchat games

free snapchat generator

free snapchat group

free graduation snapchat filter

snapchat free geofilter creator

free ghost snapchat

free snapchat hack without verification

snapchat free for kindle fire

snapchat keylogger free

snapchat free download for kindle fire

snapchat free download for kindle fire hd

free snapchat login and password

free snapchat lenses

free snapchat lookup

free snapchat location filters

free snapchat lenses codes

free snapchat like filters

free snapchat lenses reddit

free snapchat monitoring app

free snapchat mockup

free snapchat monitoring iphone

free snapchat mockup psd

free snapchat messages

free snapchat music

free money snapchat

free mermaid snapchat filter

free snapchat no download

free snapchat notifications

free snapchat news

free snapchat not working

snapchat free number

free snapchat followers no verification

free snapchat views no human verification

free snapchat points no human verification

free snapchat online

free snapchat on google

free online snapchat filters

free online snapchat face filters

snapchat free online sign up

free online snapchat camera

snapchat free online no download

snapchat free online download

free snapchat parental controls

free snapchat picture

free snapchat points generator

free snapchat passwords and usernames

free snapchat photos

free snapchat picture saver

free snapchat qr code

free snapchat reverse lookup

free snapchat recovery tool

free snapchat recovery

free snapchat recovery software

free snapchat recovery code

free snapchat ringtone

free real snapchat followers

free rein snapchat

free r rated snapchat

free snapchat score booster

free snapchat spy app iphone

free snapchat snapscore

free snapchat score app

free snapchat svg

free snapchat streaks

free snapchat spy app for parents

free snapchat tracker

free snapchat template for students

free snapchat to download

free snapchat template

free snapchat tracking

free snapchat trial

free snapchat twitter

snapchat free to use

free snapchat username lookup

free snapchat username and password

free snapchat use

free snapchat username search

free snapchat uptodown

snapchat free update

snapchat free up space

free valuator snapchat username

free snapchat views 2020

free snapchat views app

free snapchat views trial

free snapchat verification code

free snapchat viewer

free snapchat views no survey

free snapchat wedding filters

free snapchat wedding filter template

free snapchat without apple id

free watch snapchat

free whatsapp snapchat

free snapchat account with high score

free snapchat followers without human verification

free snapchat views without human verification

free yeezys snapchat

hands free zoom snapchat

zong free snapchat

snapchat za free

hands free snapchat 2019

hands free snapchat 2020

free download snapchat 2020

free download snapchat 2019

free snapchat views app 2019

hands free snapchat video 2020

snapchat free followers generator 2019

snapchat 2 free

free snapchat download for iphone 4s

snapchat free download iphone 4

snapchat 4.1 free download

snapchat 4 free

top 5 free snapchat

1 note · View note

harrietredding · 5 years ago

Text

THE INTERVIEW — GRIMM TASK 001

“Was this really necessary?” Harriet hissed at the male detective who had collected her at her work given her reluctance to come down to the station. She was the mourning aunt and the concept that some may have believed she or Chad had anything to do with this was outright idiotic. There was no motive for them to have done anything, but with a few questions of her own — she followed the detective downtown. What she wanted to know was how someone had gotten away with the murder of a fiery red head without any witnesses. While her niece may have been a number of things, she wasn’t someone to do something she didn’t want to. Madison would have fought with everything she had and while the list of potential suspects may have been long — she had a few ideas of her own.

“I’d like some coffee before we start,” Harriet told the male detective as she folded her arms across of her chest. “As well as some water.” Forest hues peered at the male as he rose from his seat and left the room. The click of the door resounded through the room and while she was aware that there may have been some individuals on the other side of the mirrored window, she still reached for her phone to shoot a text to Chad.

If the police ask to speak to you, i want to be present.... IM MESSAGE delivered at 2:30 PM

With her phone still in hand, she shot a few emails and instructions to her staff during her absence, leaving the device at her side in fear of missing an emergency at the Grimm Chronicles. “I hope it’s okay if I leave my phone here. You’ve caught me in the middle of a busy day and without any forewarning, I couldn’t provide my staff adequate support. But as you’ve mentioned, I should think of this as a friendly check in, correct?” What a load of fucking bullshit. Men, nothing she hated more in this world was when men underestimated her intelligence. The fact he believed that she wasn’t a suspect was practically insulting. Frankly, it was enough to want to reach over and slap him. However, with a face such as his, she felt that his life was hard enough as it was. Truly a face only a mother could love.

“Let’s get started, Harriet. Please state your name and your relationship with Madison Redding.”

Harriet peered at him for a moment as if he’d fallen and knocked the stupid out of him. His chubby fingers danced towards the recording machine at his left to indicate that while he knew of their relationship — it still needed to be stated for the video recording. Green hues rolled and a sight slipped past her lips as she readjusted her position on her seat. She could already imagine a group of swollen faced men analyzing this video, commenting about her shift when the question was asked. Stupidly, they’d assumed it was because of some kind of guilt or the fact that she was uncomfortable with the question. All based on how stupid she found the Detective before her and the Sheriff whom she suspected was responsible for her nieces murder. “Madison Redding. I am Madison’s aunt and was her caregiver from the age of sixteen years old and onwards. Her mother left and father died, so both herself and brother lived with me from that moment on.” She stated calmly as she peering over the male who had been writing notes down. Manicured nails drummed upon the surface of the metal table as she awaited for his next question to slip past his lips.

“Where were you on the night of February 28th and of March 5th.”

Now she had to roll her eyes. “I surely hope you’ve found better questions than these to ask the suspects you drag into this hole. How is someone meant to know where they were three weeks ago.” She groaned slightly. While she wasn’t foolish in believing the task was an easy one given the amount of people that had been splayed out on Madison’s blog. The whole fucking town had a reason to kill her niece, but this all seemed a little too meek. “I was at my office both nights,” Harriet said without searching too far through her mind. She’d been at her office most nights for the past twenty years. Workaholic was a kind definition when it came to Harriet Redding, which was why they’d be hard pressed to find an alibi for her. No one, not even the janitor, could be found in the office during those hours. Thankfully, she knew that there were cameras who would be able to corroborate her story. At least, she hoped so given how she felt no use in returning to those nights in detail. “Are you not going to give me a time period or you’re just asking me in general?” She asked on a scoff. “You must have a timeline for the events you believed happened to my niece, is that not right?” Dark hues peered slightly as she inched forward to look at the male in the face. “Look, I don’t believe your department, much less your sheriff, knows what the hell an investigation looks like even if it slapped them in the face. Therefore, I’m a little irritated that these are the questions you choose to ask me and those who’re suspected of her murder. In fact, I’m confused as to how this was allowed to happen in the first place? A girl goes missing for this long and no one sees anything? Are you even looking into the Alibi’s of those people that were plastered all over her website? There were numerous rumours and confessions on there — but no, here you are waisting your time with me.” Her head shook and a small sigh of frustration parted her lips. Lifting the vile coffee to her mouth, she took a sip.

“I’m sorry you feel that way, Ma’am — we are doing our best. When was the last time you saw or spoke to your niece?”

A snort slipped past her lips at the assurance that they were doing everything. Bullshit. This wasn’t a mere accident where a girl slipped through ice and drowned. Someone in their vicinity had cut her niece piece by piece. How could she feel confident that the police of grimmbook could manage this when they couldn’t seem to find their own foot up their asses. “Tell me, Detective — what will it take to get someone with experience here to take over the case? Another body, maybe even two? I’m hopeful that you see you’re all in over your heads, correct? Especially that of your idiotic sheriff of yours.” Though she talked down the male’s boss, Harriet couldn’t find an ounce of care. For as long as Brandon remained at the helm of her niece’s investigation, she held little hope of it ever being remedied. Therefore, she’d vowed the night of her niece’s murder that she would find her murderer on her own. Even if it meant tearing down the entire police department to do so. “I spoke to my niece the night that she went missing. We had a fight when I tried to take the laptop you took from her room. She stormed off and it’s the last time I saw her” The woman snapped back at him with a pointed gaze. “Speaking of which, since you haven’t been finding much use of the device evidently. I would like to have it back, including the hard drives as they were. After all, they belong to me given that my credit card was used to buy it.” The woman clipped as she folded her arms to look over at him.

“Are these all the famous question you need to ask me?” She spat out as mossy hues flicked over his being. “If so, I have some questions for you.” Pulling a list from her pocket, she slid it towards the detective without so much as a word. It was a list of whom she believed could be suspected and at the top of the list, circled in a red marker was: Brandon Wolfe. “I want to know if you’re looking into your own department and whether each member has been interrogated as I have?” She questioned.

Brandon Wolfe

Casper Du Pont

Caleb Myers

Dominic Hall

Carrie Pope

Madelaine Sloan

Alec Glothieb

Anastasia Cameron

Ella Gertrude

Gus Ashton

Harrison Iraklidis

Dark hues remained on the list as the male looked it over. “It’s a jumping off point,” she murmured as the red head shrugged her jacket on and began to rose. “Now, the next time that you come to my office and demand that I come to the precinct — it better be because you have information and suspects for me or I better be under arrest. Now, if you’d excuse me. I have work to do. —Please give Sheriff Wolfe my regards.”

#grimm.task #grimm.task01 #murder tw

3 notes · View notes

highkingfen · 6 years ago

Note

You are so “positive fake”. You say you understand why people are mad yet never address the lgbtqia problem. No wonder since you aren’t in the community anyway. Stop pretending things are perfect your the reason the fandom is bad right now, it’s ok for us to be mad and hate the author. Fuck your fake happiness. Hope you stay in your depression until you realize what you do is wrong

Alright, It took me a moment to answer this because the last sentence you said just broke my heart. Whatever our opinions are, wishing someone to stay in illness is just pure cruelty. We may agree to disagree, but this is going way too far and I think most of my friends here and irl would tell you the same. Please ask yourself why you needed to end your message that way.

Second, this is not fake positive. If you read my blog, you’ll see I post sad things to, I just actively decided not to engage in the fandom debate because I have a different opinion, and also because I don’t think adding my voice will bring something to the conversation. I do talk actively about the season 4 finale, just in private.

In fact, today I will record a special episode of my podcast Fillorians United with Vanessa Zoltan from Harry Potter and the sacred text and one of our point of discussion will be how to conciliate your love of something while having a problematic author (for her, it is JK latest tweets). I wanted to bring that into the fandom later and hope this will make people heal a bit more. That’s my way of taking care of the fandom. Vanessa is really insightful and her word in private helped me feel better about how I handle The Magicians content, when I will publish the mini-episode, please listen to it.

Third, I am not vocal about it but I AM in the LGBTQIA+ community. I am a biromantic asexual who is married to a bisexual transgender man. I do not see my sexual identity as my identity as some member of the community may have (i.e my husband is strong in Montreal Queer community and needed to find others like him, I do not carry that wish but respect his and, by being with him, meet a lot of people in the community as well.) I DO understand what you are going through. I DO read a lot about it. But does this mean your voice is more valid than mine?I don’t think so. I think the internet and this fandom is big enough for people to be mad and express it and have people that don’t feel as strongly as you and still want to enjoy doing gifset and writing fics without making it political. Both are ok. I hate seeing people getting angry at actors or lashing at the on twitter like they had a saying in what happened.

People forgot that most of them learn the true finale 2 days before us and that their job is to act. If they defend the show they are in, most of it is because this is their secure job and they fight for it to stay alive. You don’t like this? Then stop watching instead of being mad at people that are simply the tools of what writers wrote.

I also want to make a note for anyone that, as someone who studied Public Relation during a crisis, I would have recommended to Sera and John not to talk anymore because whatever they do or say will never be good enough for part of the fandom. Better for them not being attacked for everything they tweet and focusing on their job. They are in a hurricane and, right now, I don’t blame them to need to be in their safe house. When the storm will be calmer, I would tell them to go back on twitter. But right now, whatever they say will not be enough and will just put oil on fire. This is why I do not resent their silence. Even if I wish they’d talk, I understand why they don’t.

Also anon, all of The Magicians isnt hurt and hating the show now. I want to show you how amazing this fandom is

Because of the fandom, my 2nd edition of The Magicians DND book on Kickstarter is 130% funded and If I get 1500$ will be able to afford to take off work for a whole month and work on it, but even if I get 3 weeks it is because fans were willing to give me a bit of their money to say “hey, what you do is cool and I want to encourage you.” In my wildest dream, I’d never believed this could happen.

I see people doing cosplays and getting ready for ComicCon, encouraging each other, screaming when they see pictures. And I am here for it. I went in so many fandom that was taking apart everything a cosplayer didn’t do instead of adoring the hard work people put into it

There is AT LEAST 5 lets-keep-busy-during-the-hiatus project happening! From The Welter Challenge to a Big Bang to a Queliot or an Alice week! It is WONDERFUL to see that despite it all, some of us stay and don’t want the hiatus to means nothing happens here

people are SO fucking creative! I can’t keep up to ao3 anymore which is AMAZING! When I arrived in the fandom there were 15 fics at most. I see people doing pins and shirt and prints and fan art and gifset and analyzing the clothing and their meaning and I’m just....!!!! I think something becomes meaningful and bigger than itself the moment it makes people create.

The fact that, while I write this, I have several tweets telling me that I am loved, defended and 98% of people here do not tolerate bullies. We do not gatekeep your ship, or your notp, or if you only participate by reblogging and not doing new stuff. A fan is a fan. But what we gatekeep is hate, is attacking people because you want them to feel as bad as you, is wishing someone depression

See. I was positive. Yet I didn’t talk about the season finale. Because there is 3 season and a half that I FUCKING adore, people that are worth praising and I decided to focus on that.

Lastly, my choice to be positive is harder than it looks. Sometimes I want to scream too. Or reblog rants. But I try to spin this into my creations and another way to make people smile, feel a bit better and heal. I said it and I will repeat it again, I started to adore Fen when I realized she made the choice of kindness. And you see her struggle in season 3 because part of her want to cross her arm and let the bad things happen. But Julia reminds her, and me, that hurting doesn’t mean other people are hurt too,

This is why I will finish this with a word of wisdom; If the show hurt you so much that you want to hurt back, maybe its time for you to step away from the fandom for a moment, and ask yourself if it is worth making someone cry while being anonymously mean.

#the magicians #A bunny Asked!

86 notes · View notes

365daysofmchart · 6 years ago

Text

Reflecting on McHart: 3x08

The One Where Kurt Saves Diane, the title alone had me swooning about my favorite couple and my God, they did not disappoint! My reflection on McHart in 3x08 of The Good Fight can be found below the read more ‘cause my God, so long. Apologies for the delay!

1. “Sweetheart, have you seen my bag?” “Check the other closet.”

Sweetheart. Oh, my heart! And the other closet, implying that there is another closet, but also, after them showing us more of the layout of their home in this episode it actually makes less sense that they have a large walk-in closet in the vicinity of their bedroom. In fact, what we saw of the layout made no sense whatsoever! There’s a window in the foyer that indicates the end of the house on that side while their bedroom indicates the same on the other side, but then it’s just wall at the end of the hall and WHERE IS THE REST OF THEIR HOUSE??? Honestly though, they’ve got so much in that bedroom that I guess who needs a rest of the house? Also that’s just a generally odd location for a bedroom. Just saying.

...Look, I know I should be grateful that we’re getting Diane’s home/McHart home life at all, and I am. I promise, I am! ...But there’s so much thought that seems to go into the tiniest of details decor-wise, why can’t the same be done for something AS BASIC AS A LAYOUT AND A CLOSET FOR A WOMAN WHO HAS THE WARDROBE OF A QUEEN?!?! A CLOSET FOR A WOMAN/CHARACTER WHO IS KNOWN FOR HER FASHION?!?!!?!?! Sigh. Anyway. Yeah... I’m still not quite over the closet thing in case you haven’t noticed. But onto other things now...

2. “That reminds me, we’re invited to Mar a Lago for the weekend. ...That was a joke.” “Oh, God, you have to give me more of a signal when you’re joking or I’ll end up with a heart attack!”

Apparently Kurt still hasn’t learned that he can’t use the same expression for everything... and apparently Diane still believes that repeatedly swatting at him is effective punishment. Ah, so much has changed for the better since Landing, but I’m glad that this aspect of their relationship has not! Haha!

3. That whole goodbye! The kiss that lingers just a second longer than it has to, her sing-songed “I love you!” and his “Love you, too.” Oh, and... “All I know is they don’t deserve you.” Happy sigh.

4. Honestly just that whole. fucking. opening. scene. It was just SO DOMESTIC. The news, asking where something is, clothes slung on chairs, just that little bit of disarray of a typical morning and them weaving in and out of each other’s routines in the most natural way, them meeting and sharing a little moment before they part for the day with I love you’s. Oh, my McHart! And I know we’ve been blessed with that domesticity all season and I know I’ve mentioned it in every reflection I’ve done on them, but much like the closet situation, I’m STILL NOT OVER IT. I will NEVER be over domestic McHart!

5. Okay. Confession time. When I saw Christine wearing that cream/gold suit in interviews, there was a wee little part of me that felt hopeful that it could be a vow renewal outfit. (Not that I thought it was going to happen, but the image came and it was quite lovely and wouldn’t it have been nice???) It was not. But she looked beautiful just the same!

6. “Hello, handsome.”

FUCK. ME. UP. That is all.

7. “You told me I was bad at lying, and it’s true. But you’re bad at it too.”

Okay, but she’s not bad at lying. She’s actually really good at it. Like really good. ...She’s just bad at lying to him, and that’s actually like the sweetest thing??? ...Pretty sure Kurt is just bad at lying in general though, haha.

8. “We’re in this together now. So if you’re in danger, I need to know.”

That whole little speech of his... They truly are married, a family, one unit. One’s problems are the other’s. They are so fucking in this, and it’s taken so long but they’re here and so entirely committed and in love!

9. “Kurt, there are certain work things touching on politics that you can’t tell me, and there are certain things touching on politics that I can’t tell you. We have found a way to bifurcate our lives and make it work. So trust me when I say I can’t tell you.” I actually love that this was acknowledged--both by the writers for our benefit as well as by Diane in this conversation. Their contrasting politics have always been an aspect of their relationship but we’ve rarely seen the effect they’ve had on them (aside from the way they get them all hot and bothered) or how they manage them within their relationship. Politics are hard. Harder yet for two who are so passionate and even more so in this current political climate. And while they accept the other for who they are and their beliefs, they do know it’s a delicate dance and this is one of the ways that they work to care for their marriage. They protect themselves by keeping elements separate from their marriage, and yet... “I will overlook politics to help.”

...when it comes down to it, they are still on the same team and their partner’s needs and safety will always come first.

And that hug right there. ...It’s like a hug for my soul.

10. I just... I really don’t understand the purpose of these closets??? (Yes, I’m on about the damned closets again.) Diane has a small selection of clothes/shoes/bags in hers, Kurt has shoes, multiple umbrellas, a toolbox, and... a hamper maybe?, and who knows what else above, all rather random. Again, they must have a walk-in but these also don’t seem to be coat closets either, EVEN THOUGH they also don’t have a closet or any kind of hooks in the foyer (why???). IT JUST DOESN’T MAKE SENSE. AND MY FAVE CHARACTER (who is also the main character!) DESERVES A HOME SET THAT MAKES SENSE!!! ...Alright, I’m done for real now.

11. I feel like there are home cameras that already send you notifications when they sense movement, so I think all of that electric work and the lasers were a little extra (not to mention getting the stickiness of duct tape on the woodwork... Diane may not be pleased), but I like the spirit, Kurt! LOL!

12. Awww... Kurt’s lil office! But I spent so much time pausing and analyzing each and every photo in there... and they’re all just like military-related stock photos? LOL! ...And then there’s his mug that has a flag on it and text that suspiciously ends in “... AGAIN” Can Diane go and visit him soon please and “accidentally” knock it off his desk? It can be during an act of seduction!

13. They haaaaaad to bring in a perky young blond, didn’t they. Really? Reeeally??? Perhaps the point was to show us that he hardly paid any attention to her, that there was no flirtation whatsoever... or perhaps it was in fact to stir up the memories of his past indiscretion. Either way, definitely could’ve done without. Thanks though, TGF!

14. Wait, does Diane have two home phones (given the one he called was a line dedicated to her, given the recorded message), and her cell phone??? I mean they must have a joint home phone... unless they just kept their numbers and have two lines?

15. Not gonna lie, kinda mad that NSA guy 1) didn’t know who Kurt was like right away and 2) wasn’t fanboying over over him/them. I mean he’s in on her every call and text but out of the loop on Kurt and Diane? I. Think. Not. (Also NSA guys fanboyed over Alicia so I think a part of me is like SO WHERE’S THE INTEREST IN DIANE?!?! ...Also, also throwback to “I think Will and Diane get it on.”)

16. That look on his face when he finds out. And while I kept faith in him, that face was striking and certainly speaks volumes regarding what is to come.

17. And Kurt-Fucking-McVeigh saves the day. Saves Diane.

18. So it’s all over and done with, Diane is in the clear... and all she wants is to go home and find solace in the arms of the man she loves.

19. The way she pulls his arm around her as she settles herself beside him, nuzzling in, the two snuggled up there on the sofa at the end of the day. It’s all positively adorable and this is everything I’ve wanted in McHart!

20. The thing about the hacking is that is wasn’t just a politics thing with Kurt, it was a morality thing, too. It was wrong and we know how high his ethical and moral standards stand. And yet, he fixed it, and it wasn’t for glory or points (as he doesn’t even tell her!) or anything but pure love. And honestly, I was afraid that, even though he did in fact quietly fix it, he might still harbor resentment toward her for being involved with such a thing. But with the way he accepted her into his arms then going beyond the bare minimum nothing-is-amiss response by pressing a kiss to her forehead and rubbing her arm, it’s clear that he’s accepted it, accepted her for who she is, flaws and all, and is moving forward. As she has before. Honestly, the love these two have for one other!

And just a few other things...

Kurt is so clever!

I feel like Diane must own about as many umbrellas as she does fabulous coats.

I will never tire of seeing Kurt all spiffed up for his new job! ...Of course I’ll also never tire of seeing him in plaid and jeans, either. (Why do I have a feeling that Diane had a field day getting him outfitted for the position? Haha!)

“I took care of it.” “I’m glad.”

*Cough* Closets *cough*

This episode was so entirely lovely and had my heart positively swelling! And maybe the’ve been so nice to us this season simply to throw us off of the scent for the finale... but no matter the reason, I’m grateful to have had all of these beautiful domestic and loving scenes! Here’s to many more!

-E

#McHart #Diane Lockhart #Kurt McVeigh #The Good Fight #Reflecting on McHart

30 notes · View notes

ontherockswithsalt · 6 years ago

Text

A Made Man

/1/ /2/ /3/ /4/ /5/ /6/ /7/ /8/ /9/ /10/ /11/ /12/ /13/ /14/ /15/ /16/ /17/ /18/ /19/ /20/ /21/ /22/ /23/ /24/ /25/ /26/ /27/ /28/

A/N: I’m getting excited about lots of things in this universe. Eeeeee! Here’s Jamie on patrol on Christmas and this is all starting to get very real in New York City.

Chapter 29.

“I feel like we gotta go Chinese on Christmas, yeah?” Vinny proposes.

I consider the lunch option as the two of us make our way up the sidewalk at Seventh Avenue. Vinny and I had agreed to take a Christmas Day shift and neither of us really mind. So far it’s an easy morning – pleasant, cold but clear – the holiday settling the city.

Working on Christmas when I don’t really have other commitments at home is actually kind of fun. The energy in the city changes once the chaotic lead-up to the holiday subsides, crowds disperse, and what’s left is a classic Manhattan that’s festive and at ease. For a morning, at least. It won’t be long before people start drinking and estranged family members are reminded that they hate each other and we start getting calls.

“Dim sum?” I ask. “That place in Hell’s Kitchen?”

“Yeah, brother,” Vinny agrees with an eager clap of his hands before he rubs them together. “So what’s your family’s game plan on Christmas?”

Stepping off the curb, I round the front of our patrol car and head for the driver’s side. “I saw everybody last night. And I might go over to my dad’s later on,” I tell him as I settle into the car and adjust my radio. “I think he’s down at the Bowery Mission with the mayor today.”

“Look at that.” He pulls on his seat belt beside me. “The PC putting the rest of you Reagans to shame.”

“Yeah, I know.” I smirk, pulling away to start up the block. “Hey, I’m being a good Samaritan today.”

“You did help that delivery guy change the chain on his bike.”

“See?” I chuckle. “So what about you? How are the Cruz festivities up in Washington Heights?”

“Bro–” He manages a weary groan. “We all went to my aunt’s last night after Mass and I’m feeling it today. My sisters gave me a hard time for going home after one drink but I had to get some sleep.”

“One year I’ll have to party with you guys. It sounds way more fun than what goes down at my house.”

“Oh we get rowdy, man. And if you win the dance-off against my nieces and nephews, you can open the first present.”

Amused by the visual, I shake my head, always appreciating the stories Vinny has of his big family, growing up the only boy among four sisters.

“But I’ll probably head over to my mom’s later and see about any leftover tamales and call it a day.”

“Sounds good to me,” I muse, scanning the block for a place to park as we roll along Forty-Ninth.

Stuffed eggplant and spring rolls make for fine holiday meal. And after grabbing two green teas to go, Vinny and I make our way out of the sleepy restaurant.

I feel my phone buzz and I take a moment to retrieve it before I sink down into the car. Clicking open the message, I see it’s from Noble.

Noble: I know you’re working but can I call real quick? 2 minutes.

“Hang on,” I mutter aloud while I text him back the go-ahead. “Let me take this call.”

Settling back, Vinny flips open his memo book. “Sure thing, man.”

After a second, my phone rings and I clear my throat to answer it, glancing out my driver’s side window. “Hey. What’s going on?”

“My man!” He greets and the effortless, happy sound of it rouses a warmth in my chest. “You got a minute?”

“Sure. Just finished up lunch.”

“What was Christmas Day lunch on the streets today?”

“We hit up Buddha Kitchen,” I tell him. “And it was a good decision.”

He lets out a needy, wistful groan. “Dude, I’m jealous. AirDrop me some crystal dumplings.”

“Will do.”

“Well listen,” he starts. “What if I had the chance to get in a trip to New York after I get back from the beach? Would I be able to see you?”

“Really?” I wonder with this hopeful note that I notice piques Vinny’s attention. “Uh yeah I think so. So what, like New Year’s?”

“The 29th and 30th.”

Pondering that Saturday, I scratch my jaw and silently remind myself not to let my mind start spinning over how badly I want to see him. “We could do that,” I reason. “That’s good. I gotta work New Year’s Eve anyway.”

“Ugh yikes,” he grumbles his quick sympathy. “Also. What if Bianca came with me?”

I consider it, dragging my teeth along my lower lip. I merely hum a pensive, “Huh.”

“We’d stay at the Greenwich. I’m not asking to crash with you or anything–”

“No, it’s not that. I’m just… surprised she’d be ready for that.”

“She says she is,” he offers. “Think about it. In terms of, y’know the risk. I’m not pulling the trigger on tickets just yet. But tonight, maybe we could figure it out.”

“Yeah, okay.”

“So Saturday works though?” He verifies. “We could have like… our own early New Year’s.”

An unguarded smile hints the corner of my mouth and I turn my head with a casual glance out the window. “Alright.”

“Is Vinny right there?” He wonders.

“Yeah we’re in the RMP–”

“MERRY CHRISTMAS, VINNY!” Noble shouts through the phone, so loud I have to angle it away.

I blink hard and tell my partner, “Nick says hi.”

“Yo what up, Nick!” Vinny glances up from the report he was writing to lean closer.

“Alright, I’ll let you go,” Noble says. “We’ll talk more tonight–”

“Sounds good.”

“If you know–”

“No–” I warn.

“–What I mean.”

I sigh, managing to clear my throat before any heat creeps into my face.

He goes on, “What are you wearing?”

“Alright–”

Noble laughs, pleased with himself. “Fine. I’ll go. I know what you’re wearing but I’ll ask you again later. And I’m sending you a work-safe picture, by the way.”

“Don’t you need to go lay in a hammock or something?”

“I do. I’m late for hammock time.”

With a chuckle, I scratch my nose and glance down at my lap. “Talk to you later.”

“Bye.”

Ending the call, I put my phone away and tilt the warm paper cup of tea to my lips.

“How’s your boy?” Vinny asks.

“He’s good. Christmas in the Bahamas. Guess he can’t complain.”

“So this witness protection life. He’s got no parents, no cousins, nothing? Just him and his sister.”

I scan the block out the windshield and shift back against the seat. “Yep. His mother died when he was a kid. Dad’s in federal prison in West Virginia doing a life sentence.”

“Damn,” Vinny muses. “Murder?”

“Murder for hire. Conspiracy, fraud, extortion,” I list. “Quite the renaissance man.”

“The works, huh?”

Nodding in agreement, I take a quiet moment to think about Noble and mentally will him to feel it. It’s this strange practice I do every now and then because I swear, at random moments in the day, there’s a heavy squeeze and I feel it someplace deeper than my core. And without analyzing it too hard, I simply tell myself it’s him thinking about me.

“You meet the guy?”

I swallow another gulp of tea. “I never met his father. I met his uncle though, and I’m pretty sure he got a similar sentence.”

“Was his dad a mob boss for real?” He questions.

Here and there, Vinny’s managed to draw out pieces of information from me with regard to that case, purely out of his own curiosity. I’ve talked about Noble enough to him that the shock value of his whole back story has worn off. I mean hell, the two of them shout hellos to each other through the phone. So by now, it’s only natural that Vinny knows how deep my boyfriend’s criminal ties run.

“His dad was up there. He was a captain,” I explain. “So technically not a boss if you’re talking hierarchy. But–”

“Like, that’s some real gangster mafioso shit, Reagan.”

I scoff in amusement. “Yeah.”

“La Cosa Nostra.”

I laugh again. “I mean, I don’t think it was that heavy. Not like old school Italian mob–”

“But they tried to kill you.”

“Well, yeah. And him.”

“And Nick’s just clean,” he supposes. “Nothing? No record. He’s on the up and up?”

“It’s fair to say he probably… participated in plenty of shady business. Whether he really knew it or not,” I acknowledge. “He said growing up, he didn’t have the attention span and the vindictiveness in him to be of much use to the family like that.”

Vinny hums a good-natured chuckle.

“So he’d distract himself or let other people get their hands dirty and hope it kept him on the fringe of it all.”

He blinks with a nod as he seems to process it.

I sniff a soft laugh. “Does his whole situation make you uneasy?”

He shrugs. “No I mean, you wouldn’t be with him if he wasn’t solid. I do wanna meet the guy though.”

“He’ll be here this weekend.”

Vinny reaches out to smack my shoulder with the back of his hand. “So we should hang out.”

I turn and look at my partner to consider it. Drawing in a deep inhale, I have to laugh a little, my nerves not exactly settling at the idea.

He grins. “Come on, let’s all go out. Can he go out?”

Just then my phone buzzes once more and I remember Noble promised to send me a picture. Normally, I wouldn’t take a look until my tour was over. But he assured me it’d be innocent, plus it’s a quiet day on the radio and I miss him, so I check it out.

“He can,” I answer while I swipe the screen. “We’ve just gotta be sort of strategic about where we go.”

“Alright,” Vinny agrees.

The picture he sends makes a half smile curve on my face and I shake my head. “They’re such dorks,” I mutter.

“Let me see.”

I tilt my phone screen toward Vinny to show him the picture. Noble – with sunglasses on and the end of a candy cane between his teeth like a cigar – and Bianca wearing a Santa hat with an exaggerated wink leaning into one another by the pool.

Vinny coughs an appreciative laugh. “Tell them to hook us up with the invite next time.”

“Yeah really. Well if you’re free on Saturday, we can all go out for drinks or something–”

“Now wait a minute.” He stops me from pulling my phone away and angles closer. “You told me about the sister but you didn’t tell me about the sister.”

I hiss a soft laugh. “What’s that supposed to mean?”

He just tilts his head and looks up at me, his forehead creased as if I should know exactly what it means.

I cut a skeptical glance his way. “N-No-no-no–”

With a hopeful twitch of his eyebrow, he wonders, “Is she coming too?”

“Vin– don’t even–”

“Hey look–” He fakes a contemplative gaze at his own phone. “I’m free this Saturday.”

#jamie x noble #fun fact this story still exists and i can't stop #please enjoy jamie and vinny the christmas edition #things are happening

13 notes · View notes

shawnsorangeglasses · 6 years ago

Text

Better Conversations - Part 3

2.3k words

Get you some tea, it’s BC Part 3

Hello yellow, you gotta read part 2 if you haven’t already. Better yet, here’s the masterlist.

It feels like the whole world has gotten wrapped up in Shawn’s appearance with (Y/N) in the streets of New York. She faces some consequences.

warnings: a little dramatic, sweeter ending

......................

News of Shawn’s mystery “girlfriend” caught fire and spread rapidly across all social media platforms. Fans were either happy, suspicious, or appalled. No matter what they felt about it, young girls from all over the world began to analyze and pick apart pictures of them together in the streets of New York. The group of fans they met at the diner took a video of their meeting with Shawn and that only stirred up some more talk online as well. There were screenshots and red circles and literal YouTube videos on this. It’s not like (Y/N) and Shawn were caught holding hands or making out, but all the gossips sites wasted no words and no time getting their articles out for clicks.

The video of them only caught her from the chest down, a snippet of her voice, and Shawn’s full body sat at the lunch counter. Some people were kind enough to comment that whoever this mystery girl was had really nice legs. That seemed to be the only positive aspect in all the chaos.

Bea, (Y/N)’s sister, only recognized her because of her clothes, specifically the boots she always wore. She was just as confused and shocked as the rest of the world when she called. It took about ten minutes to calm her down and explain the whole mess.

Shawn still had to leave for Toronto that night. Goodbyes weren’t even an option. His people wanted him and him alone at the airport, which (Y/N) understood. In her mind, she had already caused enough trouble.

Miraculously enough, not one person had been able to place (Y/N)’s face or social identity. She never really posted pictures of herself online and rarely allowed anyone to take a picture of her and post it without permission. Her Instagram page only had three posts, all city photography, and her profile picture only displayed a solitary bumblebee doodle. For a while, it seemed like the damage would repair itself. (Y/N) thought she may have been in the clear.

Then she woke up. More photos were published. Her phone had ten missed calls. Eight from Jason and two from Lawrence Derringer, the head executive of his branch. (Y/N) prepared for the worst.

It was Sunday by now. The Jason and Mr. Derringer opened up their offices just to talk to her in the conference room. She wore the most conservative outfit she could find in her closet.

“Ms. (Y/L/N), are you aware of the story that has surfaced about you and Mr. Shawn Mendes in the news?”

“Yes Mr. Derringer, but I can explain. Nothing happened at all between Shawn and me. I would never get involved with a client in that fashion, and as far as I know, they never even got a picture of my face.”

“I’m afraid you’re mistaken, Ms. (Y/L/N).” They present a laptop screen to her, opened to a TMZ article with her and Shawn stood at the gemstone pop-up shop. Her face is clear and visible. “This was published eight hours ago,” Jason mumbles.

“I know your intentions must have been pure, Ms. (Y/L/N). What I’m struggling to understand is why you never questioned any of the endeavors you had with Mr. Mendes. Harmless as they may have been, this could have a negative effect on our firm’s relationship with him as well as our image in the industry. Did this not occur to you when you realized you were being photographed? Surely it must have.”

(Y/N) doesn’t answer, right away. Saying no, would have been a lie. She did consider the possibility of them getting a little publicity, but she didn’t think so far ahead about how that might affect the company.

“I suppose you’re going to have to fire me then?”

Mr. Derringer glances at Jason, then back at (Y/N). “Fortunately, no. You will not be fired for this. Apparently, Shawn called our offices several times last night trying to get a hold of one of us. He managed to reach me and said the day out was his all idea and that you should not be fired for the events that followed.”

“So, I’m not in trouble?”

“Well yes and no. I told him you would keep your job but that does not mean you can get off without some repercussions. Since Whitman was the one who hired you, I figured he should be the one to enforce that.”

Jason steps forward, looking like he was trying so hard to be authoritative in front of his superior. “I made the decision to prohibit you from attending any future corporate events where Shawn or any other Island Records artist may also attend. It’s probably for the best that you don’t see Mr. Mendes anymore in public for any reason. Your recent promotion has also been revoked as well and your salary will revert back to the earnings you made prior to said promotion.”

(Y/N)’s jaw set, keeping her tongue from saying everything she wanted to spit in his stupid Ivy League face. Everything she’s wanted to say to him for the past eight months feels like holding acid in the back of her throat. She swallowed her thoughts.

“I understand. My sincerest apologies, Mr. Derringer. It won’t happen again.”

“I certainly hope not, Ms. (Y/L/N). You’re a valued member of our staff and you contribute so much to the floor and the board. It’d be a shame to lose you over something like this. Jason will see you out. Have a good evening.”

(Y/N) is already at the elevator smashing the down button before Jason can even make it down the hall. Tears of humiliation sting her eyes as the elevator slowly takes her and Jason down from the top floor. He tries to lay a hand on her shoulder, apologetically, but she shrugs it off and steps further from him. If he was sorry, it only because he felt like he had to be, not because he actually was.

“Are you seriously pissed at me? You brought this on yourself.”

“You have no right to try and keep me from seeing him or anyone.”

“That’s what you think this is about? Maybe you ought to think twice before sleeping your way through our list of clients.”

Of course, it’s all my fault that I didn’t feel like eating alone one afternoon.

“I’m sorry. I wasn’t aware going to lunch with one man is the equivalent to shoving my tongue down his throat.”

“You might as well have been, the way you were smiling at each other in those pictures.”

“I knew it. I knew you had a problem with me seeing other people. You can go and fuck every girl in Times Square if you want, but I have to sit idly by like your personal dumping ground?”

“You can see whoever you want. Just not him. You should know better. This firm—”

“Like you give a damn about the firm. This is about you and your fat ego. You can’t handle the fact that somebody might even be a little interested in me because you know that as soon as I find someone who actually gives a damn about me, I won’t have a reason to come back to you for a goddamned quickie in the janitor’s closet.”

“It’s that kind of thinking that keeps you behind that desk.”

(Y/N) falls silent. No more words are spoken. There was no use in trying to argue or be right. Jason was jealous again. He’d done this once before when another coworker, someone on (Y/N)’s pay grade, showed interest in her. The elevator doors finally open and she treads heavily out the front doors, never looking back.

…………………..

(Y/N) spent the rest of the evening wrapped in her bed sheets, at first crying with her makeup still on, then eating leftovers and watching Criminal Minds reruns. Hearing Dr. Reid talk about m.o.’s calmed her down. She’d turned her phone off hours ago just to get some peace. Family and friends were calling and texting her non-stop yesterday evening about her appearance with Shawn. At the time it was too much to handle with possibility of getting fired still looming over her head. But now with the worst over, (Y/N) figured she should probably check her notifications for anything important.

Through all the messages from cousins and people who barely knew her, one single text from Shawn floated to the very top.

[please call me]

He sent it about an hour after (Y/N)’s meeting with Mr. Derringer. It’s 1 AM now but Shawn was in LA. She checks the time zones first then finds his contact and presses the call button. He picks up on the first ring.

“Hey, are you okay?”

(Y/N) grins for the first time today, more than happy to hear that soft voice again. “I should be asking you that. Every news outlet has a story on you. And me, I guess.”

“Yeah but are you okay?”

It sounds like he’d been waiting to ask her this question all day. Technically, (Y/N) was okay, but she could be better, given the circumstances. She chooses her next words carefully.

“I…I will be. I didn’t get fired if that’s what you mean. Thank you for that by the way.”

“I’m so sorry. I said everything would be fine and I should have known this would happen.”

“It’s not your fault. People aren’t that crazy about it. Your fans are being relatively nice to me, now that they know my face.”

“They know your face?”

“Yeah. More photos came out this morning.”

Shawn goes quiet for a moment. It sounds like he’s moving into another room away from the chatter in the background. “Could we video chat?” The new echo of his voice sounds like he’s moved into the bathroom.

(Y/N) looked at her reflection in the mirror on the wall across the room. Dramatic streaks of mascara still trailed down her cheeks and her eyes were still very red. She should say no, but she desperately wants to see his face. And this technically didn’t go against Jason’s stupid new rules for her.

“Give me a minute.”

She washes her face in the bathroom the best she can. Her eyes are still red when she’s done. Fuck it, she thinks. Maybe he won’t notice.

(Y/N) flops back down on her bed and opens the app. Shawn’s face pops up on her screen, riddled with concern. He’s sat in the bathtub, one in a hotel probably, wearing a white t-shirt, hair fluffy and wild without its gel. One “s” curl fell on his forehead.

Unfortunately, he does notice. “You’ve been crying?”

(Y/N) bites her lip. “Maybe.”

Shawn doesn’t speak. He just wants to look at the girl on his screen. The truth is he didn’t really have a good reason to facetime her other than just wanting to see her again. He was so sure that she would never want to talk to him again after all of this.

“I want to know why, but you don’t have to tell me,” he says.

“No, it’s alright. I’m not fired but I am never allowed to be seen in public with you again as long as I work there.” (Y/N) sniffles. “Which is fucking stupid.”

“So quit,” he mutters. The words leave his mouth before he can think twice about saying them.

“Quit?”

“I mean—I’m kidding, that’s not what I meant. God, that sounded really bad.”

“It did,” she says through a smile. “But I have thought about it. About a year ago actually.”

“What changed your mind?”

“I met someone. At work. We’re not a real couple but...” (Y/N) realizes she doesn’t have an appropriate label for whatever she and Jason are, but Shawn seems to understand. “I wasn’t trying to get ahead. I did actually like him once upon a time. But he never wanted to be anything more with me. Then he became my boss and things just moved under the table.”

Shawn thinks this time before speaking. “Was it that guy you were with at the party?”

“Damn, you’re good. How much of that did you see?”

“I saw when he tried to get you to dance. And when he was at the bar.”

“Well if this music thing ever bombs—it won’t—you should be a detective.”

Shawn gives her a weak smile. A piece of his heart broke a little when she admitted to being in a relationship, albeit a noncommittal and toxic one. Someone already had her heart and her eyes.

“Do you still love him?”

(Y/N) thinks about it for second. Love? It seemed so unattainable for her at this point. At the start, Jason was romantic but never with the usual gestures. Just clever lines and secret lunch dates on the rooftop. Then one day he just stopped. Looking back, it doesn’t seem like love anymore. Just regular sneaking around. “I don’t think we ever made it to the love stage of it all.”

Shawn slouches down into the tub more, forcing his long legs out and his feet up on the tiled wall in front of him.

“I take it back. Maybe you should quit.”

(Y/N) blinks at him. “Very funny. I may be unhappy, but I still have bills to pay. That bastard docked my salary too, so I’ll be working double shifts again.”

“No, I’m serious, (Y/N). If you go in tomorrow and put it your two weeks’ notice, you can have a job as my assistant.”

She sits up in her bed, not believing a word of what those bright pink lips were telling her. “I thought we we’re joking when we talked about that.”

He shrugs. “I wasn’t.”

“Doesn’t there have to be a few more conversations with a few more people before you just bring a new person on board?”

“I’ll talk to Andrew tonight,” he promises. “He knows who you are, and I’ve told him how hard you work.”

“I’d have to think about it Shawn. That’s a big leap.”

“I know, but I do mean it. You have a job waiting for you whenever you want it.”

(Y/N) tried feel good about this, but everything about working for Shawn scared her. She knew his intentions were good but there was more risk than that. What if she fell into the same hole she did with Jason? What would fans say? What would people think?

“I call you when I have an answer.”

......................

taglist:

@spider-mendes @sebsdreamboat @innositer

#shawn mendes #shawn peter raul mendes #shawn mendes fanfic #shawn mendes fanfiction #shawn mendes imagine

93 notes · View notes