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af-answers · 6 years ago

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All Hallow’s Eve

(DISCLAIMER: We’re going way off the canon path here, kiddos.)

Orion hadn’t heard from Artemis in weeks. He wanted to be thrilled, but he knew better than to trust himself. He wondered if he’d ever be fully at ease in his own head, or how long it would be before the little worm of guilt allowed him to call the head his own. He sat on a window ledge outside the Great Hall at early morning, waiting for his friends and thinking. He found it less and less pleasant to have time to himself lately: the longer he was alone and the longer he thought, the more he found gaps in his memory, gaps only his Other Half had access to. The day before he’d needed the colors of the rainbow for a spell and found he couldn’t remember them. His classmates had a jolly laugh at his expense when Snape made him memorize a song of colors, then sing it aloud for the class.

“Oi, Orion!” Ron called, pulling the Slytherin from the sill and out of his thoughts. “We thought we’d get here before you for a change.”

“Have you been sleeping well?” Harry asked, clapping a hand on Orion’s shoulder as they strode toward the monumental double doors.

Orion pursed his lips. “I’ve been sleeping, but not resting, you know?”

“Yeah, I can relate,” Harry said with a sad smile.

Orion had learned a lot about Harry in the last weeks, specifically the three Gryffindors’ annual exploits and the possible return of He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named.

He’s a regular King Arthur, Orion thought. A boy with a great destiny. He wished he could tell his friends about his own adventures, but even he knew raving about other dimensions and fairies with time-stop technology and demons living on the moon would result in a one-way ticket to the loony bin.

The four children walked towards the closed doors of the Hall without breaking stride and the doors swung open on their hinges without being touched: though today, they did so with an unearthly groan. Orion jumped, and his friends grinned.

“I love Halloween,” Hermione said, stretching her arms over her head.

Black candles floated in clusters above the tables in the Great Hall, their wax surprisingly not dripping on the bright orange tablecloths below. The rafters were swathed in giant, real cobwebs, and a giant jack-o-lantern loomed in the middle of the ceiling, leering at the students as they entered.

Orion grinned back, his initial skittishness forgotten. He’d never had a real Halloween. Artemis wasn’t one for the season.

The children were feasting on caramel apples, spiced oatmeal, and pumpkin milk when the ghosts came into the hall, descending through the ceiling and phasing through walls.

“Do they not have ghosts at Ilvermorny School?” Hermione asked, noticing Orion’s open fascination.

“Erm, no,” he recovered. “Haven’t been around long enough, I suppose. Do they have to die in the school to be ghosts here?”

“I sure hope not!” Ron said through a mouth full of pumpkin muffin. Hermione glared at him, and he shrugged. “If so, where do the ghosts get their mounts for the Headless Hunt? Did the horses all die with their masters?”

“Or do they have to wait around for the horses to die?” Harry cut in.

“How many headless men couldn’t be in the hunt for lack of steed?” Ron asked, pointing at Harry with a fork.

Harry laughed. “Maybe it started off as a Headless Jog.”

“The two of you, really,” Hermione chastised. “A lot of them do,” she told Orion. “Or at least, they all have a strong connection to Hogwarts.”

“And unfinished business,” Ron added, wiggling his fingers under his chin and baring his teeth.

“What’s the Headless Hunt?” Orion laughed.

“A gaggle of really old men on their high horses boasting about not having a good head on their shoulders.” Nearly Headless Nick sulked. He phased between Ron and Harry, and the chill he brought on prompted them to make room for him on the table bench. “Now me, I may not be completely headless, but at least I have a head!” He said the last part loudly, so a group of men a good deal shorter than they should be, heads tucked under their arms, could hear.

“He’s talking about Lord Valeron,” Ron whispered behind his hand. “He lost his head, literally. His head was misplaced before his burial. But he’s still able to take part in the Hunt. No one knows how.”

“I know how! It’s prejudice!” Nick bewailed. “He can’t use his head for Nogglin’ Rolling, or Cranium Volleyball! They only like him because he’s mysterious.”

“He is pretty mysterious,” Hermione said, resting her chin on her fist as she watched the only truly headless man on the outskirts of the group, fixing cufflinks he couldn’t have known had come askew.

Orion felt a stirring in his mind, a cold, familiar itch that made his stomach turn.

“It’s rumored that his head knows such terrible secrets it’s been buried separate from his body somewhere on the Hogwarts estate,” Ron said in hushed tones, “and that he searches for it still.”

“Ahh! He’s bewitched you as well!” Nick wailed. He swung an arm to bang the table, but his arm fell right through. “But I’ll have the last laugh,” he told them, leaning in conspiratorially. “Because I know where Lord Valeron’s head lies.”

Ron and Hermione made faces of awe, though it was evident they didn’t believe him, while Harry shook his head. But someone did believe the beleaguered specter.

‘Ask him if he wants his head completely removed.’

Orion started so violently that he dumped a goblet of pumpkin milk into his lap. He performed an anti-stain spell before Hermione could, but the wand shook in his hand and the spell transferred the stain to the tablecloth.

“Orion?” Hermione asked, her heavy brows furrowed.

He turned his attention to Nick on the other side of the table. “I can remove your head for you.”

“What?” Nick, Ron, and Harry said in unison.

“I can remove your head for you,” Orion said, the color returning to his cheeks, “and you can finally take part in the Headless Hunt. But in return, you tell me where Lord Valeron’s head is.”

The three Gryffindors and the ghost stared at the pale boy for a long moment.

The ghost finally spoke. “If you can get me into the Hunt,” he said slowly, “I will do whatever you want.”

“How in the seven layers of the underworld are we supposed to remove a dead man’s head?” Orion hissed, trying not to sound excited. He’d ducked into a dark gap between columns for privacy while he talked to himself.

‘Oh, you’re acknowledging me now?’ Artemis said snidely.

“You haven’t talked to me for weeks!” Orion sputtered. “But never mind that, you must have a plan if you’ve promised the poor soul his deepest wish.”

‘The simplest solution would be to exhume the body and finish the job.’ Artemis smiled at Orion’s squeamishness. ‘But as I’m doubting there’s any flesh left, that avenue is out. Thankfully, while you’ve been traipsing around wizard academy, I’ve been doing some theorizing with quantum and particle physics.’

“Yeah?” Orion asked, pretending to understand.

He could almost see Artemis’s vampiric grin, quite fitting for the holiday. ‘Yeah.’

That night, the four friends gathered under Harry’s Cloak of Invisibility and snuck into the Transfiguration classroom, chose because it was the only class with windows big enough to be lit by the full moon.

Orion had gathered supplies per Artemis’s instructions and hid them in the room before light’s out: a coil of copper wire, the interdimensional device that brought them there, the damaged tazer pen, some protection equipment, and a knife.

‘Or any sharp blade,’ Artemis had specified.

Orion had never distrusted himself more.

“What do we do now?” Hermione whispered. “We told Nick to meet us at midnight, that’s two hours away.”

“We— I need the time to set this up,” he explained. “It’s very precise, but I’ll let you know if I need help.”

The three friends gathered around a table a few meters away to play some game they’d invented with the Chocolate Frog cards. Orion wished he were playing with them.

‘Focus,’ Artemis reprimanded. ‘You have the steady hands for this job, but not the knowledge. Now listen to me very carefully—‘

It was about fifteen minutes till midnight, and the Gryffindors had long since become bored of their game and infatuated with Orion’s mysterious assignment. He’d set up a small workstation at McGonagall’s desk. Odd sparks flew in every direction as he used his wand as a welding torch to rewire something in the tech-watch he’d snuck in from home.

“Electronics don’t work here,” Hermione reminded him, her face flickering in the blue light of the flame. “That’s why your watch broke in the first place.”

“It’s a good thing I’m not trying to fix it then,” Orion said through the bandana covering his mouth.

“What are you trying to do?” Ron asked.

“Supe it up,” he replied, using tweezers to lift a tiny coil on the circuit board and bend it where he wanted it. “If my theory is correct, ghosts are a mix between the magical and the physical: real, organic beings who left an imprint on the world. I’m not the first to wonder if those who died didn’t really pass on to a higher plane, but are in fact dimension-adjacent, and the sad creatures we call ghosts are caught between our world and the beyond.” He wound two lengths of wire to the sides of the circuit board, twisted those wires together, and snipped it with the knife half a meter from the watch. “However, the human brain essentially runs on electricity, a current,” he activated the tazer pen, which he’d reworked to create a steadier charge. “It’s no coincidence that electronics go haywire when specters draw near. They’re an ectoplasmic container for the neurons that contain the brain, the spirit! So hence, my little experiment.”

He twisted the wire around the fountain pen’s split tip, then switched it on. The watch’s display screen flickered, then lit up and beeped a digital greeting.

“Voila,” he said, folding his arms over his chest.

“You just fixed a watch,” Harry said, raising an eyebrow.

“You sounded just like Arthur,” Hermione added, her eyes wide and admiring.

“I’ve done more than fix it,” Orion said, coughing once into his fist. He took up the knife, a switchblade he’d knicked from one of the other Slytherin boys. He wrapped the watch’s band around the knife and tapped a few buttons on its interface.

“Are you ready for me?” Nearly Headless Nick phased through a window, the moonlight refracting through his hair and ruffled collar.

“Are you ready to be headless?” Ron asked as the ghost descended to their level.

“I’ve been ready for one hundred seventeen years,” Nick said. He rubbed his hands together. “So what do I do?”

“Come closer,” Orion pressed a final button on the watch and leaned over it, his palms planted on the desktop. “And trust me.”

A red web emanated from the watch, causing the three other humans to jump back. The laser lattice scanned Nick, then whirred as the frankensteined contraption hummed and vibrated so hard the knife rattled on the table.

“Is it supposed to be doing that?” Hermione whispered, eyeing the door warily. The machine was making quite a racket now.

“Someone’s going to hear!” Agreed Harry.

As he said this, the Hogwarts clocktower began to ring, the bells’ resonance drowning out the droning of the machine.

“Look!” Hermione said, pointing at the experiment. The base of the hilt glowed blue. The blue virus spread up the knife, and when it encased the tip of the blade, Orion turned off the tazer and cut the power to the watch.

“Wizard,” Ron said.

Orion touched the hilt with a finger experimentally, and when it didn’t hurt him, he slipped it from the watch band and held it aloft. It was still opaque, but had the eery aura of the haunting dead.

“An entrancing display,” Nick said, “but how’s that—“

With a quick, practiced strike, Orion slid the knife through the preexisting cut bisecting his throat, exerting a bit more pressure when he felt the resistance of skin.

All four students and the ghost watched in awe as his head tipped comically to one side, then fell to the floor.

#orion fowl #halloween #hogwarts au #harry potter #Hermione Granger #ron weasley #nearly headless nick

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pinwheelrecords · 6 years ago

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BREAKING NEWS!

Here's the list of everything we'll have on Saturday. We did our best to order everything that folks asked for, but unfortunately we didn't receive everything we requested.

Please note that quantities are *extremely* limited - in some cases, we only received one copy of a particular title. And as usual, only one copy of each release per person.

We open at 9am Saturday. You're welcome to line up whenever you want - just be respectful of our neighbors. We’ll have free coffee and donuts for y’all.

Okay, here we go:

13th Floor Elevators: The Psychedelic Sounds of The 13th Floor Elevators

A-ha: Hunting High And Low / The Early Alternate Mixes

Allman Brothers Band: Fillmore East. Feburary 1970

Armstrong, Louis: Disney Songs the Satchmo Way

Arnalds, Olafur: RE:MEMBER + STRING QUARTETS

Art Ensemble of Chicago: The Spiritual

Badalamenti,Angelo, David Lynch: Twin Peaks: Season Two Music And More

Badu, Erykah & James Poyser: Tempted

Baker, Julien: Red Door / Conversation Piece

Bananarama:Bananarama Remixed: Vol 1

Basement: Be Here Now

Bingo Hand Job: Live At The Borderline 1991

Black, Frank: Frank Black

Black, Frank: Teenager Of The Year

Bone Thugs-N-Harmony: E. 1999 Eternal

Bowie, David: Pin Ups

Bowie, David: The World of David Bowie

Bowie, David / Marlene Dietrich: Revolutionary Song / Just A Gigolo

Broken Social Scene: Let's Try The After Vol. 1 & 2

Brown, James: Sho Is Funky Down Here

Buckley, Jeff: In Transition

Buffalo Tom: Buffalo Tom - 30th Anniversary Limited Edition

Captain Beefheart and His Magic Band: Trout Mask Replica

Cheap Trick: The Epic Archive Vol. 3 (1984-1992)

Cheech & Chong: Up In Smoke 40th Anniversary Picture Disc Vol. 2

Chic: Le Freak

Chicano Batman: Black Lipstick (EP)

Complesso Strumentale Italiano, Giulio Confalconieri: Dalí in Venice

Costello, Elvis and the Imposters: Purse EP

Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young: 4 Way Street (Expanded Edition)

Curren$y, Freddie Gibbs, and The Alchemist: FETTI

Currie, Cherie: Blvds of Splendor

Czarface: Double Dose of Danger

Death Grips: Steroids (Crouching Tiger Hidden Gabber Megamix)

Devo: This Is The DEVO Box

DJ Khaled: Victory

Dorough, Bob: Multiplication Rock (Original Soundtrack)

Dr Dog: Live 2

Dr. Dre:Nuthin' But a "G" Thang

Dylan, Bob: Blood On The Tracks - Original New York Test Pressing

Emerson Lake & Palmer: Live At Pocono International Raceway

Evans, Bill: Evans In England: Live at Ronnie Scott's

Flaming Lips: Kings Mouth

Fleetwood Mac: The Alternate Fleetwood Mac

Franklin, Aretha: The Atlantic Singles 1967

Free Nationals: Beauty & Essex

Gabriel, Peter: Rated PG (Limited Edition Picture Disc)

Gibbard, Benjamin: Me And Magdalena / The Concept

Good Old Boys, The: Drink Up And Go Home: Live At Margarita's Cantina, Feb. 20 & 21, 1975

Gorillaz: The Fall

Grant, John: Remixes Are Also Magic

Grateful Dead: Sage & Spirit

Grateful Dead: The Warfield, San Francisco, CA 10/9/80 &

Green Day: Woodstock 1994 Live

Green Jellÿ: Cereal Killer Soundtrack

Green River: Live At The Tropicana 1984

Green, Al: The Hi Records Singles Box Set

Greta Van Fleet: From The Fires

Griot Galaxy: Kins

Grodeck Whipperjenny: The Grodeck Whipperjenny

Hancock, Herbie: Dedication

Hawkwind: The 1999 Party - Live At The Chicago Auditorium 21st March, 1974

Hicks, Bill: Revelations: Variations

High on Fire: Bat Salad

Joel, Billy: Live At Carnegie Hall 1977

John, Elton: Live From Moscow

Joplin, Janis: Woodstock Sunday August 17, 1969

King, Albert: Born Under A Bad Sign (Mono)

Kool Keith: Complicated Trip

Lennon, John: Imagine (Raw Studio Mixes)

Lightnin Hopkins: Strums the Blues

Lillingtons, The: Death By Television

Lord Huron: The Night We Met

Madonna: La Isla Bonita - Super Mix

Madonna: True Blue (Super Club Mix)

Mastodon: Stairway To Nick John

Menzingers, The: No Penance b/w Cemetery's Garden

Minus 5, The: Stroke Manor

Mission Of Burma: Peking Spring

Modest Mouse: Poison the Well

Montgomery, Wes: Back on Indiana Avenue: The Carroll DeCamp Recordings

Morrison, Van: Astral Weeks Alternative

Morrissey: Love-To-Be

Mumford & Sons: Delta Acoustic Sessions | Live From Electric Lady [10" Picture Disc]

My Chemical Romance: The Black Parade Is Dead-Live In Mexico

Ol' Dirty Bastard: Intoxicated

Parker, Charlie: Charlie Parker With Strings: The Alternate Takes

Pearl Jam: Live At Easy Street

Pelican: Midnight & Mesaline

Pink Floyd: A Saucerful Of Secrets (Mono)

Pinkfong: Baby Shark

Police, The: Message In A Bottle

Pop, Iggy: Hippodrome - Paris 77

Presley, Elvis: Live at the International Hotel, Las Vegas, NV August 23, 1969

Prince: His Majesty’s Pop Life

Prince: The VERSACE Experience: PRELUDE 2 GOLD

Queen: Bohemian Rhapsody Picture Disc

Queen: Bohemian Rhapsody/I'm in Love with My Car

Ramones: Live at The Palladium, New York, NY (12/31/79)

Redding, Otis with Booker T. & The M.G.'s with The Mar-Keys: Just Do It One More Time!

Reed, Lou: Ecstasy

Residents, The: B.S. LP pREServed Edition

Robyn: Body Talk

Rolling Stones, The: Big Hits (High Tide and Green Grass) (UK)

Rolling Stones, The: Through the Past, Darkly (Big Hits Vol. 2) (UK)

Rush: Hemispheres

San Fermin: Live At The Fillmore

Santana: Breaking Down The Door

Santigold: I Don't Want: The Gold Fire Sessions

Sly & The Family Stone: Woodstock Sunday August 17, 1969

Soccer Mommy: For Young Hearts

Soundtrack: Coneheads Music From the Motion Picture

Soundtrack: House Of Wax Music From The Motion Picture

Soundtrack: Howard Stern Private Parts OST

Soundtrack: IAm Sam

Soundtrack: Lost In Translation

Soundtrack: Malcom X Music

Soundtrack: New Jack City OST

Soundtrack: Office Space OST

Soundtrack: The Crow

South Park: Bigger, Longer & Uncut. Music From And Inspired By The Motion Picture

Spence, Alexander "Skip": AndOarAgain

Spence, Alexander "Skip": I Want A Rock & Roll Band / I Got A Lot To Say/Mary Jane

Stars: Sad Robots

Strummer, Joe: The Rockfield Studio Tracks

Sublime: NUGS: BEST OF THE BOX

Sumney, Moses: Black in Deep Red, 2014

SUNN O))): Life Metal

Tangerine Dream: Le Parc

Tangerine Dream: Machu Picchu

Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Pizza Power Single

The bird and the bee: Ray Guns are not Just the Future

Thunders, Johnny: Que Sera Sera - Resurrected

Tiny Tim: Live At Royal Albert Hall

Tweedy, Jeff: WARMER

U2: The Europa EP

Van Zandt, Townes: The Best Of Townes Van Zandt

Various Artists: Ghost World Soundtrack

Various Artists: The Basketball Diaries: Original Motion Picture Soundtrack

Various Artists: In The Garage: Live Music from WTF with Marc Maron

Various Artist: Soul Slabs Vol. 2

Various Artists: Breaking Bad (Soundtrack)

Various Artists: Disco Not Disco

Various Artists: Folk and Pop Sounds of Sumatra Vol. 2

Various Artists: Rough Guide To A World Of Guitar

Various Artists: Rough Guide To Blind, Black & Blue

Various Artists: Spider-Man: Into The Spider-Verse Soundtrack

Various Artists: Stax Does The Beatles

Various Artists: Sun Records Curated by Record Store Day, Volume 6

Various Artists: Where The Action Is! Los Angeles Nuggets Highlights

Violent Femmes: Hallowed Ground

Weezer: Dusty Gems: The B-Sides

Weezer: Teal Album

Wipers: Alien Boy EP

Zappa, Frank: The Guitar World According To Frank Zappa

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hesthekingofsomewhere · 7 years ago

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Yet Another Chatfic pt 5

part 1 I 2 I 3 I 4

this is a long chapter! and im posting it ahead of schedule! bc I love yall!

please leave comments! likes! I love feedback!

Also! this chapter has a peek into sarah, finch, and alberts groupchat

Queens of New York

8:15

santagay: say yeet if you made it home alive

DJacobs: Yeet!

SJ420: yeet

richbitch: yeet

Spot8365631: yeet

respecs: yeet

albiehadalittlelamb: yeet

WhereforeArtThou: yeet

noteventhatshort: yeet

SJ420: wheres finchy boy?

littlebirdie: still at their apt

littlebirdie: oh right

littlebirdie added crispycrutch to Queens of New York

PM with albiehadalittlelamb

santagay: al, finch slept over

albiehadalittlelamb: yeah ik?

santagay: i hate to say this and be that guy, but al, he slept in crutchies room

santagay: ik whats its like to be cheated on, and i never thought i would be having this conversation about finch but I dont want you to get hurt.

albiehadalittlelamb: ill ask finch, im sure nothing happened

PM with littlebirdie

albiehadalittlelamb: did my fake bf cheat on me?

littlebirdie: …

albiehadalittlelamb: GET SOME BOIII

littlebirdie: lmao so your not mad?

albiehadalittlelamb: why would I be mad? even if we were dating id be chill about this, ik you have a huge thing for crutchie and lord knows youd never get any action from me

albiehadalittlelamb: the only problem is that jack thinks your cheating on me

littlefinch: ok so should we fake-break up? cuz i kind of dont want to, but if jack thinks im cheating on you…

albiehadlittlelamb: i have a plan

albiehadalittlelamb: does crutchie know that were fake dating?

littlebirdie: ye, theres no way i would even be allowed into his room if we were actually dating

albiehadalittlelamb: ok but heres the thing, if jack thinks you cheated on me, then race probably thinks the same

littlebirdie: oooHHHHHH

littlebirdie: so now im also fake cheating on you so that race will feel bad and fall for you and your sad situation

albiehadalittlebird: exactly!

littlebirdie: nice! what could possibly go wrong

Queens of New York

respecs: so why is this chat called queens of new york

inyourFACEtrack: well you see…

inyourFACEtrack: twas all hallows eve 2017

inyourFACEtrack: and 7 of us showed up to kaths halloween as drag queens completely independantly

noteventhatshort: and sarah kath jack and i were dressed as disney princesses

respecs: thats beautiful

respecs: and here i thought it was bc ?everyone? here is lbgtq

santagay: well if you think about it, its both

richbitch: when was the last time we even had a straight in this chat?

crispycrutch: i think we had morris in the chat for a week when he was dating romeo

santagay: oh god i forgot about that

SJ420: does he even count as a straight?

inyourFACEtrack: well there was a reason he was only in the chat for a week so…

santagay: true, speaking of which

santagay: specs, if you ever hurt romeo, we will find out where you live and steal all of you soap lest you ever get a date again

respecs: noted?

SJ420: he gave me the same threat when I started dating kath lmao

santagay: it worked didnt it?

SJ420: im hate you

santagay: you loved me once loser

WhereforeArtThou: oh shit he went there

inyourFACEtrack: oooooooooooo

crispycrutch: ??????

SJ420: once upon a time i thought i was a het, and then i dated jack for like 2 months

SJ420: and 90% of our relationship was checking out pretty girls together

SJ420: so i figured i should date those pretty girls

noteventhatshort: BIG MOOD

SJ420: for the record the other 10% of the relationship was jack checking out “cute” boys and me being like eh

santagay: and herre i thought you were just trying to stop me from being jealous

SJ420: jack at one point i kissed another girl in front of you and you did not care

noteventhatshort: AHHH

inyourFACEtrack: OOOF

richbitch: AN ICON

santagay: ok well

SJ420: don’t even try bud

DJacobs: That’s my sister!!!!!

santagay: but at least you didnt hide it

santagay: at least you werent kissing people behind my back like SOME people in this chat

SJ420: ????

Spot8365631: i thought you were over that

santagay: i am i just need to have moral high ground over someone

inyourFACEtrack: wait what

noteventhatshort: is this chat just stories of jack getting cheated on now?

richbitch: im living for this

richbitch: jack cant keep a man nor woman

noteventhatshort: but whats this about spot cheating on jack?

santagay: he BROKE my FRAGILE 15 y/o HEART

santagay: but spottie was too cool, lived too fast, couldnt be tied down to one man

Spot8365631: also david was a much better kisser

SJ420: OH SHIT PLOT TWIST

richbitch: CALLED OUT

inyourFACEtrack: 911? theres been a murder?

DJacobs: This…. is true.

inyourFACEtrack: THE LEGEND HIMSELF SPEAKS

respecs: i am living for the drama in this chat

crispycrutch: were kind of a mess tbh

respecs: i understand and completely respect that

inyourFACEtrack: you reSPECt that?

respecs: haha very funny not like thats my goddamn username or anything

Spot8365631: roasted

inyourFACEtrack: bitch

inyourFACEtrack: YO JACK ROMEO, GOT MY MFN 29TH

santagay: fuck offfffff

WhereforeArtThou: this bet is unfair

WhereforeArtThou: im only attracted to one gender, thats less than half the people to ask

santagay: dude ur still winning

WhereforeArtThou: yeah but its a lot more work

inyourFACEtrack: i only have 1 girls number, i think its p even

santagay: this seems like something you should have considered when we started

WhereforeArtThou: ok but consider this

WhereforeArtThou: i didnt

inyourFACEtrack: ok but consider this

inyourFACEtrack: ur a dumbass

WhereforeArtThou: strong words coming from a guy who threw a wii remote out the window

noteventhatshort: fight fight fight fight

inyourFACEtrack: my embarrassments are not ur entertainment smalls

noteventhatshort: ur embarrassments are my only entertainment what r u talking about

Spot8365631: also everything you do is embarrassing

inyouFACEtrack: i feel betrayed

santagay: you should

santagay: i once saw u put hot chocolate mix in oj

inyourFACEtrack: it tastes like a terrys chocolate orange i stand by my choices

crispycrutch: you snorted mr noodles seasoning bc spot told you to

inyourFACEtrack: and i got 20$ for it

Spot8365631: u didnt “””get”””” 20$ ur debt to me was just slightly reduced

inyourFACEtrack: EITHER WAY

crispycrutch: once i watched u drop a spoon into a pot of boiling water and stick ur hand in to get it

inyourFACEtrack: i think ur point has been made, thnk u crutchie

Spot8365631: please do not stop, hes had it coming

crispycrutch: i will stop only bc i value my safety and so i still have receipts for the future

inyourFACEtrack: oh god

inyourFACEtrack: why did i think it was a good idea to live with you

crispycrutch: bc you love me and i contribute to the rent

inyourFACEtrack: touche

crispycrutch: besides, i would have dirt on you regardless

crispycrutch: i have seen each and every one of you do stupid stuff, no one is safe

inyourFACEtrack: mooooom crutchies being meannnn

DJacobs: Crutchie, please delete your blackmail.

crispycrutch: how can i delete it when its in my brain

santagay: i have never been more scared of crutchie

SJ420: crutchie is my idol

crispycrutch: that does not make you safe my friend

SJ420: honestly at this point you could reveal anything about me and i would not care

SJ420: i have reached a god status where nothing you say could possibly embarrass me

richbitch: im so in love with you

SJ420: love you too babe

PM with SJ420

richbitch: ik youre in the next room but i dont want dave to hear, but I got a dinner reservation for two tomorrow at 7 and was wondering if you would like to join me

SJ420: i mean of course, but why are you asking me like this

richbitch: because

richbitch: also you should wear that dress you got for christmas

SJ420: ok?

More Than Just Cigars

SJ420: kath is acting weird

albiehadalittlelamb: what kind of weird

albiehadalittlelamb: like “i just lost a lot of money” weird

albiehadalittlelamb: “i just took a bunch of acid” weird?

littlebirdie: oh no is it “i just slept with jack” weird?!

SJ420: oh god no

SJ420: she texted me and asked me on a date

SJ420: i asked her why and she said because

littlebirdie: !!!!!!!!!

littlebirdie: DID SHE ASK YOU TO WEAR SOMETHING SPECIFIC

SJ420: ye, a dress from christmas

albiehadalittlelamb: OH MYYYYY GODDDDDDDD

littlebirdie: GIRL

SJ420: what????

littlebirdie: jfc ur blind

albiehadalittlelamb: if u havent caught on yet we cant morally help u srry

SJ420: GUYS PLEASE

littlebirdie: nope

albiehadalittlelamb: have fun on ur date tho

PM with santagay

albiehadalittlelamb: oh yeah finch did not, in fact cheat on me

albiehadalittlelamb: he was just making up with crutchie last night, they had a fight

santagay: and u trust finch in this

albiehadalittlelamb: ofc, ive known finch a long time, he would never

santagay: ok if you insist, i just dont want you to get hurt

albiehadalittlelamb: thanks jack

Queens of New York

littlebirdie: anyone else just, super glad that theyre gay?

littlebirdie: bc thats such an important feeling

DJacobs: Me too, Finch

Spot8365631: rt

SJ420: rt

noteventhatshort: rt

WhereforeArtThou: rt

albiehadalittlelamb: rt

santagay: rt but bi

inyourFACEtrack: rt but bi

richbitch: rt but bi

respecs: rt but bi

crispycrutch: rt but pan

littlebirdie has changed Queens of New York to Queers of New York

inyourFACEtrack: helllllll yeah

Spot8365631: no cussing, my mom checks my phone

inyourFACEtrack: oh my goodness im so sorry spot

inyourFACEtrack: ill delete the message right away

DJacobs: What?

DJacobs: Why does your mom check your messages, Spot?

DJacobs: You’re 23 and moved out?

DJacobs: Also I’m pretty sure I’ve seen you swear in this chat.

DJacobs: This is a meme, isn’t it?

santagay: u got there on ur own!

santagay: im so proud of u!

DJacobs: Thank you, Jack.

inyourFACEtrack: why does it feel like everyone is in loving and healthy relationships except me?

PM with inyourFACEtrack

Spot8365631: wow rude

inyourFACEtrack: were not in a relationship remember?

Queers of New York

DJacobs: Jack and I are not dating.

santagay: dude, were mom and dad, i think that’s close enough

respecs: question, in this mom/dad thing, who is everyone else

santagay: kath and sarah are the aunts obvi

inyourFACEtrack: smalls, romeo, crutchie, al, and i are their kids

inyourFACEtrack: finch used to be one of the kids but now hes dating al so that seems weird

inyourFACEtrack: i guess hes sarahs kid now?

SJ420: awwww i love my new son

respecs: what about spot?

santagay: hes kind of… his own entity… like an estranged uncle or neighbor that spends more time in ur house than his own

Spot8365631: rude but accurate

santagay: thats my name dont wear it out

Spot8365631: i hate you sm

santagay: then y r u always in my house???

Spot8365631: this metaphor has gone to far. blocked deleted and unfollowed.

santagay: honestly? thats fair

santagay: i respect ur choices

Spot8365631: sounds fake but ok

PM with Spot8365631

inyourFACEtrack: in a beautiful twist of fate, crutchie jack are going to see a movie with davey and kath, and im home alone with a meat lovers pizza on its way

Spot8365631: ok?

inyourFACEtrack: would you care to join me?

Spot8365631: no, sounds too much like a date, and were not in a relationship right?

inyourFACEtrack: dude, were friends, sharing a pizza, and maybe having anal sex

inyourFACEtrack: thats not a date its just what we do

Spot8365631: still no, i have to finish a foreign policy essay for tomorrow

inyourFACEtrack: oh ok

20 notes · View notes

whispersandwhiskerburn · 7 years ago

Text

An All Hallows’ Haunting

Summary: Dean, Sam, and Reader take on a case featuring one of America’s oldest ghost legends: the Headless Horseman...who rides on Halloween. Pairing: Dean x Reader Word Count: 6,745....holy shit, how did that happen? Warnings: A few pieces of language, a bit of suspense...nothing really. Author’s Note: I tried to make this extremely canon-style in characterization, plot, everything. This is a late contribution to my dear friend @plaidstiel-wormstache‘s Halloween celebration (thanks for the prompt, patience, and proof-reading!). I actually met her last Halloween when she asked me to beta a The Nightmare Before Christmas x SPN fic , so when she hosted, I had to get a TNBC prompt for this fic: “She’s the only one who makes any sense in this insane asylum”. Look for it along with some familiar characters from Burton’s animated holiday classic. Feedback is always appreciated!

“Seriously, you guys don’t do anything for Halloween?”

You had found the Winchesters on a hunt back in January, and you and Dean had officially gotten together in April… this was your first fall with them and you couldn’t believe what you were hearing.

Sam and Dean exchanged looks. The younger one smiled wryly, “let’s just say it carries its own brand of nightmares.”

“Yeah, once you’ve dodged Samhain himself, the whole idea of celebrating the season kind of loses its shine…plus, you know, we’ve been kind of busy.”

You nodded, understanding. In the past few months you had been there as Dean darkened under the curse of the Mark and had helped the brothers patch it up after Sam had gone behind both of your backs to get it removed by Rowena. You understood why he had done it… and you couldn’t feel bad about it, no matter what happened with Amara.

You were thankful to have Dean back. You weren’t ashamed of that.

You tried to get them back to the lighter topics—a role you were used to filling with the Winchesters. “Come on! Costumes, candy, trick or treating, pumpkins… pie?” Dean chuckled, and you smiled, “fall has its plusses. Halloween’s only a few days away, and we haven’t made any plans!”

“Don’t get me wrong, Y/N, if you’re planning to dress up, I’m all in for that.” Dean quit wagging his eyebrows long enough to dodge the French fry his brother tossed at his head.

“Sorry you two—your dress up activities are going to have to be postponed. It looks like we might have a case.”

Dean sat up, and so did you, ready to be a bit more serious. Sam was scanning the computer screen in front of him.

“Charlie” Sam struggled with her name and all three of you flinched, “flagged this when she uploaded the men of letters files and a bunch of the hunter’s journals that we pulled out of Bobby’s storage—a reoccurring haunting. Dean, you remember the Morton house with the janitor guy who showed up every leap year?” Dean nodded, and you shrugged.

“Kinda like that. Except the pattern on this one is much more spaced out, which is probably why no other hunter has ever caught it. Apparently, every 24 years there’s a rash of beheadings on Halloween near a place called Tarrytown, New York, about a half hour north of Manhattan. The residents link it to a local legend and get this—the spirit of a headless horseman.” Sam scoffed the last words and Dean shot a quizzical look at you.

“You mean the dude with the pumpkin chasing the goofy looking guy in the cartoon?”

“You’re talking about the short story by… Irving, I think?” You thought back to your community college English class— “’The Legend of Sleepy Hollow’. You’re telling me it’s real?”

Sam nodded, closing his computer. “According to Bobby, which is good enough for me. Looks like the horseman’s due to ride this year, so I’ll see you in the garage in ten?”

You slid back your chair, standing up at the same time Dean did. As Sam stalked off down the hallway, you pulled Dean close for a quick kiss.

“I’m taking a rain check on that dress up challenge, Winchester.”

He settled his hands at the nape of your neck, his fingers threading through your hair. “Oh, really? Have you got a French maid costume lying around somewhere?”

You kissed him again, then leaned back as your hands slid down his back to land on his narrow hips.

“Maybe. But now that you’ve put the idea in my head, I’m not gonna rest until I see this ass,” you squeezed his cheeks, and he settled his hips closer into yours, “in cowboy chaps.”

He was already leaning in for another kiss when he processed what you said, and leaned back to laugh—one of those good belly deep laughs that crinkled the corners of his eyes and brought an involuntary smile to your face. With everything going on, it was good that you were still able to make him let loose like that.

“Now come on, Cowboy. Let’s go take care of this horseman.”

He gave you a good ol’ boy wink and drawled, “yes ma’am.”

Trailing the Impala through the northern part of the country on your motorcycle had been a visual treat. You’d always enjoyed a long ride, the music in your one earbud the modern kind that Dean hated, and you could never get enough of, and the fall colors in the trees were just incredibly gorgeous.

They’d stopped a little way past Chicago for the night, and despite the good food, Sam and Dean had been in an irritable mood. Dean hated traffic and Sam had been trying to do research on the case, and had found that separating the fact from the fiction when it came to this famous ghost was a bit of a headache.

“It’s like researching Bloody Mary all over again,” he grumbled as they set off in the car again the next morning. You were relieved to get back to the drive—the brothers were less likely to be whiny when they actually got to the job.

You were surprised when you saw Dean flash his blinker, signaling a turn when the sign you just passed said Tarrytown was straight ahead. When he slowed at the next stop sign you pulled up beside driver’s door as he lowered the window, putting one foot on the ground as your bike idled.

“Sam’s found a current address to a contact from Bobby’s journal—a guy named Jack Bones. He lives kinda off the beaten track, but since we’ve only got two days till Halloween, we figured we’d stop there, see if he could fill in any blanks.”

You nodded your agreement, and Dean pulled out on the road again with you following.

It wasn’t a full ten minutes later when you reached the end of a rough driveway and found a huge garden, overflowing with pumpkins, complete with a sign detailing prices. You smiled, looking around to find the rustic house and it’s wrap-a-round porch. You decided immediately that you liked it, and whomever had decorated the porch with fall mums.

You had parked closer than the boys and you were already leaning down to smell the bright flowers when you heard the door slam on the Impala.

“Hello, there. Are you here to buy a pumpkin from the Pumpkin King?”

You looked up to see the skinniest man you’d ever laid eyes on—his eyes were sunken in, and for a moment, he seemed more like a walking skeleton than a human being. Then he stepped out into the sunlight, and you could see his bald head and wide welcoming smile.

You returned his smile, “no, sorry. I’m looking for a Jack Bones, not a Jack-o-lantern.”

You saw Dean and Sam out of the corner of your eye as they walked up behind you and you stood up.

“That’d be me—call me Jack. Doll?” He called back through the screen door into the house, “were we expecting company?”

“Not to my knowledge.” The feminine voice was followed by striking older lady with shoulder length auburn hair wearing a colorful sundress despite the chilly October air.

Sam took a step forward, smiling disarmingly. “Hi, my name is Sam Winchester, this is my brother Dean, and this is Y/N. We heard your name through Bobby—”

“Singer. Yeah he mentioned you two boys as well.” The smile was gone from the old man’s face and he rubbed the back of his neck. “Where is he? I’ve been expecting him for days.”

Sam and Dean exchanged looks and you saw a hint of pain flash across their faces. You took Dean’s hand on instinct, squeezing it in support. You saw Mrs. Bones walk closer behind her husband, putting a hand on his shoulder.

“I’m sorry, Jack, but Bobby died almost three years ago.” You kept your voice gentle, sad to give the news. You’d never met the man who had helped raise the Winchesters, but you knew he had been a great man.

Jack nodded, his smile tightening to a thin line. “I thought that might be the case. It sure is going to make this thing harder though.”

The silence then was thick and awkward until Mrs. Bones stepped in front of her husband, “I’m sorry for your loss. My name is Sally. Would you like to come in? I’ve got an apple pie cooling off—and I’ve always found that hard news and hard times are made lighter with good food.”

Jack seemed to shake off his melancholy and turned to look down at the woman beside him, smiling. “Thanks, Sally.”

He turned to face us, “I always listen to her--she’s the only one who makes any sense in this insane asylum of a town. You folks come on in and we’ll talk about what Bobby left you to do.”

Sam stepped up on the porch and Dean followed, your hand still folded inside his.

“Local tales differ on who the Hessian is—it gets tangled up with the Sleepy Hollow legend that made the town famous, but Irving didn’t write that story until 1819, after the Horseman had already ridden once twenty years before that.

“The real story gets mixed up with that quite a lot.”

Jack was leaned back, having swallowed his slice of pie in about four bites, and seemed ready to tell a story. Dean had scored two slices with a compliment to Sally’s cooking, and she looked on him fondly as he obviously relished every bite. You and Sam were more interested in what Jack had to say than the pie, but you were both taking small bites to be polite.

“I noticed—trying to separate fact from fiction online was difficult. If it hadn’t been for Bobby’s notes, I wouldn’t have believed there was really anything supernatural here.”

Sally laughed at that, “oh, there’s definitely something supernatural here. The Hessian’s ghost gets hyped up for the tourists, but we grew up here—we know the truth. The Hessian is the boogeyman that parents frighten their kids with…until the 24-year mark get close, then the newest generation gets told the truth.”

You put your fork down, sliding what was left of your pie towards Dean. “That was delicious, Sally, thank you. Can you two tell us what you actually know for sure about this ghost?” Sally nodded, then gestured to Jack to do the talking.

“Well, what is generally known by everyone who grows up here and who is willing to believe is fairly straightforward. The horseman, we call him the Hessian, was 24 years old when he was executed by beheading. The man was a murdering coward in life: he killed his superior officer to advance in the ranks of the British army, but when the battles started to get heavy with the Continental Army, he deserted his men. Most of his battalion died. He was captured, tried, and found guilty before being executed on Halloween in 1775.

“Except he comes back every 24 years—this will be his tenth visit. It always starts on the full moon in October when the Hessian rides away from where the battle was fought and into the woods. He rides again every night after that, retracing his desertion. And on October 31st, at least one person in the surrounding area loses his head, quite literally. Then the Hessian vanishes for another 24 years.”

Jack gathered up the empty pie plates after Dean scraped the last of yours clean. He moved to the sink to wash them off and Sally picked up the narrative with the smoothness of a couple who has been together for a long time.

“It’s not the full story, but it’s enough detail to convince most kids to stay out of the way of the Hessian. Not that it does much good. The victims of the horseman are found along his ride, but most of them go missing from their homes, and sometimes they are tourists.”

Dean spoke up for the first time since the pie appeared: “there’s got to be something connecting them.”

Jack turned around, wiping his hands on a towel as he smiled, “yeah, Bobby said the same thing. I didn’t believe in the Hessian at all when I was a kid, but that ended when I saw him myself.”

“Well, aren’t you Mr. Unlucky.”

Sally muttered something that sounded suspiciously like, “Mr. Stubborn maybe.”

Jack came back to his chair, either not hearing or not acknowledging his wife’s comment. “I’ve been around for three visits from the Hessian so far. The first time, I was barely a toddler, so that one probably shouldn’t count…but growing up hearing the stories, I always assumed they were complete crap. So, when the next visit was due when I was 26, I decided to find out the truth for myself.”

“And I told you not to. ‘It’s a mistake, Jack!’ I believe were my exact words.” Sally’s voice was scolding, and you couldn’t help smiling at Dean. They were honestly shaping up to be relationship goals.

Jack still pretended not to hear her and soldiered on.

“That year, ’67—the same year as that car of yours, I think—the full moon was early in the month, more than ten days before Halloween. After hearing so much about it my whole life, and then watching the whole town close up early superstitiously for six days in a row and the bars filled with gossip and whispers, I went out to see for myself what was going on.”

He went silent again and his eyes took on that look that older people always have when they look back on the past.

“We’ll leave it at the fact that I saw him that night. If you three are going after the Hessian, you’ll see him for yourself, and you’ll understand why I don’t try to describe him now.

“In 1991, the town prepared to weather the Hessian’s rides and kills again the best way they knew how—spread the truth to the next generation, close up the town early, laugh it off to the tourists… the usual.” Jack shook his head, his face grim.

“Three people died that year. I knew the Hessian was real, that he was coming, and I did nothing, we all did nothing. And three people died. When Bobby Singer showed up a few days into November and started asking around, it didn’t take him long to find me.

“He sat where you are right now,” he gestured to Dean’s chair, “and the two of us talked about the Hessian and ghosts and the supernatural until he convinced me that the victims had to have something in common.

“So, we started digging. And we didn’t stop until we figured it out. Bobby promised he’d be back this year, or he’d send you boys to finish the job. The horseman’s been riding the past two nights, and the night after next, anyone who has ever ducked a responsibility that resulted in the death of someone else is going to end up as headless as the Hessian.”

You and Sam looked at each other wide-eyed. You hoped you heard wrong, “you mean the horseman goes after cowards?”

Jack made a face like he didn’t know how to word something. Sally stepped into the silence, “not really. The horseman’s victims all have something in common—they had willingly chosen to do something, then failed, and their failure resulted in at least one death. One woman who was beheaded last time was a foster mom and the child accidently drowned when she wasn’t paying attention, another was a safety inspector who signed off on a building that was structurally unsound and collapsed on three people a year later.

“We think he’s not just reliving his failure when he rides away from the battle every night after the full moon. We think he’s also administering the same judgment he received against anyone who committed his crime, since so many died because he abandoned his post.”

The tenseness of Dean’s shoulders wasn’t something you’d seen since the Darkness had been released…which was probably part of the problem. His mind was at the same place yours and Sam’s had gone—Dean, having lost the Mark and released the Darkness on the world, was exactly the type of victim the horseman would go after.

“Are you three okay?” Jack was quick.

Dean stood up from his chair, nodding to Jack and Sally, “thanks for the pie and the help.”

Then he turned and walked out. You shot another look at Sam, gesturing to the older couple, hoping he would come up with some kind of explanation, then you followed Dean outside.

He was leaning against Baby, his eyes on the trees across the road, but much further away.

“Dean, you okay?”

Dean’s eyes didn’t even attempt to meet yours. “Oh, I’m awesome. It’s just been a long two days on the road, and apparently, we’ve got to find a way to kill a ghost when we don’t have a body to salt and burn. And, oh yeah, my neck’s on the chopping block, or Sam’s might be, depending on who this horseman decides to blame for Amara.”

“Hey,” you cupped his cheek, waiting for him to look at you. “Even if that’s all true, we’ve faced lots worse and come out on top. We’ll get through this too.”

You heard the door shut and Sam was walking out to you. Dean shifted slightly, and you backed up, giving him his space.

“I made our goodbyes and got directions to the place where the horseman rides. I also got Jack’s number in case we run into any trouble, or so we can tell him when the job’s done.”

Dean nodded, opening the car door and sliding in. “Let’s go find a hotel and make some kind of plan then.”

He slammed the door shut in a way that telegraphed that his head was still up his ass, so you walked towards your bike. You shrugged at Sam’s raised eyebrow, knowing he’d probably get an earful on the way into town.

As much as you loved the man, sometimes Dean spent too much time and effort dwelling on guilt and things he couldn’t control.

It had been a tense night. It had started as a somewhat reasonable discussion of possible solutions and past cases—everything from a woman in white, to a racist truck, to apparently even a ghost ship that hunted down people who killed family members… the Winchesters really did have quite a resume on spooks.

Soon it had devolved into sullen silences as Dean’s mood continued to worsen as he dwelled on the Amara situation and the guilt he and Sam shared for releasing her. You felt a part of the guilt, but not as much as the boys—it always seemed to you like, ever since they saved the world the first time, they could never get that weight of responsibility off their shoulders.

You had a different outlook. You did what you could, while you could, and let the rest take care of itself.

In the end, it was a grim group that headed out after sunset. According to Jack’s information, we could count on the Hessian to ride tonight, and he only ever appeared along the same path, but not always at the same spots along that path—apparently, he would vanish and reappear as he went.

Sam had gotten a map, and the plan was for the three of you to spread out along the line Sally had drawn, since the ghost wasn’t attacking anyone tonight or tomorrow, and try to spot him. You’d meet up after midnight when the ride was over and compare notes, and, hopefully, figure out a way to gank the bastard tomorrow night.

On the television, Janice Huff had predicted 56° F temperatures tonight, so you had dressed accordingly as the boys suited up in their flannels. Dean was staying with Baby, you took your bike, and Sam was dropped off in between the two of you. He was the fastest runner of the three of you, so it was the most logical way to go, but you could tell it only worsened Dean’s mood.

Something else for the man to worry over.

You were brooding over Dean—his weird connection with Amara, the guilt and pain inside him, his stubbornness—when you realized that a mist had crept over the ground.

That had not been a part of Huff’s weather forecast.

You gripped your salt-shotgun tightly in one hand and opened the video group call you’d set up between you and Winchesters with the other.

“Guys, you seeing this?”

Static.

“Dean? Sam?”

Nothing.

Awesome.

You tucked the phone away and straddled your bike. The mist was getting thicker and the temperature seemed to have dropped at least five degrees in the last few minutes.

You started the motorcycle, and instead of reflecting the light from your headlamp, the mist seemed unaffected by the bright light, but the darkness above the mist was pierced, letting you see nearly 20 yards away—just in time.

He was taller than you expected.

The horse was more shadow and mist than real, but the horseman on his back was much more substantial… or as substantial as a spirit ever seemed to be.

The shoulders seemed far too broad without a neck or head on top. His uniform was mostly navy blue, but covered in mud and scratches. The sound of hooves was thundering, drowning out the growl of the bike between your legs and the pounding of your pulse in your ears.

You raised your shotgun to your shoulder, the hair standing up on your neck as he drew closer seeming to aim straight at you, even though you knew you were several yards to the side of his path. You calmed yourself with the knowledge that the Hessian was only going to ride straight by. He was going to keep going. He was not going to attack you. He was—

He was right on top of you.

And he knew you were there.

It was an unnerving sensation—he had no eyes, no reaction, he didn’t once break stride, but he was aware of you. And his awareness was cold, cunning, and powerful.

You pulled the trigger without any conscious decision to do so.

The shot seemed deafeningly loud to you, as if everything else in the world had been muted. Your aim was dead on, and the ghost vanished immediately following your shot, leaving you alone on your bike.

Alone except for the lingering malevolent feeling of being watched and the slowly dissipating mist.

It took a lot to shake you up, but you were officially dreading this hunt. Despite your attempts to make light of your encounter with the Hessian, the boys, who hadn’t seen him last night, had picked up on the fact that something was off.

It might have had something to do with the new screaming nightmare you had added to your collection. It was part of the job, but, somehow, this hunt was different.

Sam was trying to be logical and supportive—asking details, treating you like a witness or a victim on a case in an attempt to gather information and help you get past it.

Dean was playing the part of angry-protective lover.

“If he’s intelligent, and capable of deviating from his pattern, that might be a good thing. It means we can distract him from his pattern, agitate him. We’ll get him to chase us across running water or onto hallowed ground—either one should be the same as salting and burning the bones.”

“Good. This son-of-a-bitch has got to go. But no more splitting up.” Dean had nearly had a heart-attack after hearing your shot last night and not being able to get a call through to you.

You were glad he had gotten over his brooding spell, but this suffocating over-protectiveness wasn’t really an improvement.

“We’ll get the job done, Dean, whatever it takes. I definitely got the feeling he’ll remember me after last night, and we all know that you two will make tempting targets for him considering his preferred victims. I agree that drawing him in shouldn’t be too difficult.” You fought back an internal shudder at the thought of being in that presence again, then scolded yourself internally.

You’d faced so much worse than this ghost.

You realized that you had been pacing the small area between the beds and the door in this crappy motel when you saw the worried glance the brothers traded.

“Guys, I promise, I’m fine. He didn’t touch me. I’m just…antsy.”

“Maybe you should stay behind, Y/N—”

“Dean—” Sam tried to warn his brother off… rather pointlessly. Dean was nothing if not stubbornly protective.

“If this thing has singled you out, maybe it’s not such a good idea.”

You stopped your pacing with your back towards Dean, closing your eyes and taking a deep breath as you focused on the thought, he means well, he means well, he means well.

“And when you thought you or Sam might be the natural target? Did you think about tucking tail and running? Were you willing to take the coward’s way out and risk other people’s lives because of a possibility that you might be in danger? Be like the Hessian, you mean?”

You turned around to see him shifting uncomfortably on the bed and avoiding eye contact with you, because he knew that he would never have backed down from a hunt for that reason. Sam was pointedly looking at his computer and pretending he couldn’t feel the tension in the room.

Tonight was the last night the Hessian would ride without killing someone, at least traditionally. You had a feeling that your attack on him last night might have changed the status quo, but you didn’t have time to cajole Dean with reason.

Sometimes, the man needed to just be told what was what.

“I was on the job before we ever met, Dean. We all know the risks.” You gentled your voice, feeling guilty; you knew his reaction was instinctual and not intentionally insulting, “besides, we know the Hessian isn’t actually limited to his path—his victims get taken from their homes and hotels and left along the way. Staying away wouldn’t keep me any safer, and it certainly wouldn’t help gank this bastard.”

You went and sat next to him, and he finally made eye contact with you.

“So, let’s work together and figure out why he felt so much stronger than any other ghost I’ve ever tangled with. Sam? Any ideas on that?” You turned to face the younger Winchester as you threaded your fingers with Dean’s squeezing in confirmation that the two of you were okay.

He squeezed back.

“Well, there’s his age. Very few ghosts we’ve ever met have been haunting for 240 years. Then there’s the fact that he only seems to manifest for a week or two every ten years, which means he’s not really struggling with the pull of the veil and the mortal world the way most vengeful spirits do, so that might explain why he still seems methodical and not…” Sam trailed off, trying to think of a way to describe the average vengeful spirt you hunted.

“A rabid dog? On ghostly steroids?” Dean offered, and the three of you chucked, the tension finally easing a bit in the room.

Sam nodded, “exactly.”

You thought it out a bit, “and then there’s the fact that he seems to be linked with Halloween. If the legends are right, he was killed on the day, which is all kinds of supernaturally significant: crossing into the spirit world on the night when spirits have the easiest time crossing into the mortal world? And the full moon seems to have a role in this haunting and lore from all over the world links the lunar cycle with supernatural events. It’s no wonder he seems so much more than most ghosts.”

Dean squeezed your hand again, and you realized some of your inner dread had seeped into your voice while you spoke.

You forced yourself to sound more gung ho as you pulled your hand loose and clapped them together, “alright then! Let’s find us some old school holy ground or special running water to get rid of this thing once and for all.”

Dean studied you for a moment, and you knew he could see right through your false bravado. He let it go though, pulling out your computer bags from beside the bed so that you could join Sam in researching.

“Sounds like a plan, sweetheart.”

It had taken a few hours, but you had found a suitable plot of holy land: the site of a colonial church. Dean had taken a certain amount of sadistic pleasure in the idea of forcing a redcoat onto that land to kill him, which you had laughed at, telling him that the ghost’s uniform had actually been blue.

It had been the last moment of frivolity of the evening as you headed out to set up the trap.

Dean had wanted to have Sam on your bike and the two of you in Baby for the taunt and chase scene. You had told him that was stupid, and you weren’t letting Moose ride your girl. You had both backed off when Sam pointed out that the best method would be to keep everyone in one place, since the Hessian might have the ability to separate individuals anyway.

No need to make it easier on him.

You took the backseat since Sam had such a hard time fitting back there without laying out like he was going to take a nap. You had decided to start off where you had seen the horseman last night, and you waited with the car off, all of your eyes peeled for any sight of the ghost or of the strange mist that had preceded him before.

It didn’t take long for the anticipation to burn away to the boredom of any other stakeout.

“Here’s what I don’t get. Why did he go to you in the first place?”

Sam seemed almost disappointed, though whether that was a weird type of jealousy for a missed opportunity or just that he was stumped over a thought he’d apparently been chewing on for a while, it wasn’t clear.

“Isn’t it obvious?” Dean turned to look at you, confused at your tone.

You kept your eyes out the window, even though the dark country view and the deserted lane wasn’t what you were really seeing.

“It’s another part of the job. We all accept responsibility when we take on a case. We promise ourselves that we’ll save everyone. We promise we’ll keep our loved ones safe.

“But we’re human. We hesitate. We make mistakes. And in this life, that means people die. It’s always been that way.”

You turned to look at Dean, hoping he would really listen to you. He needed to hear this even more than you needed to say it.

“So, when we lose people—family, like your parents, like Bobby; friends, like Kevin and Charlie, strangers like the ones that draw us to the cases we take on… we feel guilty about it. Even though we do all we can, we still feel like it’s all our fault, like we’ve failed in our responsibilities and someone else paid the price.

“And as long as we’re hunters, it will be that way, until we pay the price ourselves.”

There was a moment of silence in the car, then you continued in a low voice full of certainty. You understood your role in the world, and you understood this ghost.

“That’s why he’ll come after us. Not Amara or the Mark…it’s because we spend our lives taking on impossible fights, and we don’t back down even when we lose.” You looked back out the window, noting what might be the first wisps of mist.

“This guy ran before the fight and died because of it. Even if we weren’t actively hunting him, he’d probably be coming after us because we’re everything he should have been and didn’t have the strength to be.”

A silence descended in the car again that lasted much longer than seemed necessary.

“Damn, Y/N. Deep much?”

You shot a smile at Dean, then pointed towards the thickening mist creeping over the ground. “Looks like we’re about to get this party started, so the philosophical discussions are going to have to be put on hold, boys.”

A moment later the sound of hooves began to vibrate the frame of the vehicle and the mist parted enough to see the insubstantial shadow horse and the much more intimidating headless rider cantering towards them.

“Go, Dean, now!”

Dean cranked up the Impala and hit the gas, shooting down the road. Despite the growl of the 550 horses under Baby’s hood, the supernatural soldier still seemed to be gaining.

“Dean, he’s gaining, go!”

“We’re almost at the church site, how far off is he?”

“50 yards…45 yards… C’mon Dean… 30 yards… 20…”

Dean’s wheels squealed as he turned almost 180° to stare back at the Hessian. The three of you piled out of the car quickly, Sam passing out the salt guns just in case.

Your heart was hammering, watching the horseman come barreling towards you and feeling that awful intent bearing down on you, calling you.

“C’mon, you son of a bitch, c’mon…”

Dean’s mutter grounded you, kept you from panicking as your pulse matched the pounding of the ghostly hooves—and when the sound cut off, so did your heart.

He was gone.

Barely five yards from the boundary line, the Hessian vanished from the lane.

But you could still feel the eyes, the malevolent power in the air, mixing with the mist and raising every hair on your skin.

“Where is he? Can you guys see him?” Sam and Dean didn’t respond, and you looked around frantically.

You were alone.

You pulled your salt-shotgun up to your shoulder and fought back the fear.

“Dean! Where are you?!”

The mostly full moon cut through the ghostly mist as if it wasn’t there and you turned and twisted, wishing you had your back to something, wishing the Winchesters were here.

Then you saw him, looming out of the mist in front of you.

The Hessian, unhorsed, beheaded, and wielding a one-handed sword and standing stock still. It was impossible to say that he was looking at you since he had no eyes, but every muscle and instinct in your body tensed for the fight you could practically taste in the air around you.

You braced and fired, pumped the gun to reload and fired again, all in seconds, sinking two rounds of rock salt center mass in the spirit in front of you.

“Y/N!” Dean was coming.

The Hessian vanished, but the presence was still there. But now, so was Dean, with Sam right behind.

“Are you okay? He snatched you somehow. The church grounds are about 10 yards that way.”

“He’s here somewhere. I got him with rock salt, but he’s not gone. I can tell.”

“There!” Sam pointed at the stalking figure of the headless man and all three of you aimed, but only Sam and Dean got a shot off this time. The ghost vanished, but the anger in the air seemed to increase, the mist having risen from ankle to waist high.

“Guys, we have to get him closer to the border line, force him over somehow.” You started backing towards the direction they came from and you fell into a familiar formation, you leading the way, Sam watching the retreat and Dean between the two of you, alternating from side to side to cover as many angles as possible.

“He was supposed to chase us over the line. How the hell do we get him across now?”

You could see the car ahead and knew you were close to the boundary line, but Dean had pointed out the main problem now.

“I’ve got an idea. Can you two buy me a few minutes? Keep him distracted.” Sam passed you, heading for the Impala while you and Dean went back to back to narrow the angles.

“C’mon you British asshat! Aren’t you sick of running away like a little bitch?”

You loved the man, but Dean was never good with subtlety.

The Hessian formed right in front of him, sword swinging at neck height for the decapitating blow. “Y/N, duck!” You dropped and rolled, coming up on one knee with your gun up. Dean was blocking the sword strokes with his shotgun, but each hit drove him back a step, the power of each swing enough that Dean was quickly losing ground, the sound of metal on metal clanging through the air.

You couldn’t get a clear shot off, so you got up and ran closer, not knowing what you were going to do, but knowing you had to do something.

“Y/N, take this!”

Sam was there, knocking your gun away and shoving something cold, heavy, and metallic into your hands.

“Clothesline him!” He pointed to one side of Dean who, you now realized, was deliberately losing ground to draw the Hessian closer to the border line.

You ran, gripping the metal in your hands tightly as it dragged then went taunt.

“Dean, hit the ground!” Sam’s voice was loud and just in time to avoid hitting Dean with the chain that you realized was stretched between you and Sam. Dean dropped, and though you expected the chain to go through and dissipate the ghost, instead it hit him square in the back, hard enough that you and Sam both swung closer towards him, your momentum dragging him forward.

The chain wrapped around the horseman, dragging him forward the last few feet and across the border onto what used to be church property in his time, and what was still considered hallowed ground.

The chain grew hot in your hands as the Hessian shook and burned, the air growing sharp as the cold intelligent hate you had felt since his appearance crystallized into a mind-piercing screech of pain.

He flickered, flickered, and vanished.

The chain fell to the ground, the mist vanished, and, most telling of all, the malevolent feeling that had been present for every moment of the Horseman’s presence was gone completely.

You flexed your hands, slightly burned and sore from gripping the chain, as you walked closer to Sam and Dean just a foot away from where the Hessian disappeared.

“You guys okay?”

Dean was standing up, brushing dirt off his knees and his now very scarred gun. He nodded briefly, but couldn’t seem to find words. Sam shook his hands, ran them through his hair then shrugged, “I’m fine. You?”

You nodded then kicked at the heavy chain laying on the ground, “what is so special about this thing?”

Dean leaned over and picked it up. “It was Bobby’s. We used it before on a ghost—a buruburu, actually.”

He seemed preoccupied with his thoughts as he hauled it back to the trunk, so you turned to Sam for further explanation.

“It’s an iron chain etched with spell work. When he didn’t follow the plan, I had to think fast.” Sam shrugged, like it had been no big deal to make that leap. As much as you could admire the looks of them, sometimes, you were amazed by the brains alone inside these Winchesters.

“Yeah, well, I’m glad you did. Anyway, you’d better call Jack, let him know that Tarrytown’s Hessian is gone for good.” Sam nodded, taking his phone out as you walked over to Dean.

He had just finished putting away his gun and the chain, but when he heard you, he turned and pulled you into his arms. You felt the shudder of relief go through him and relaxed a bit yourself now that it was over.

It had been a close one.

You stood up on your tiptoes and found his mouth with yours, pressing a sweet slow kiss to his full lips. Just as it was starting to heat up, you leaned back and gave him your coyest smile.

“And as for you, Monsieur Cowboy,” you said in your best approximation of a French accent, “I believe we have some Halloween plans back at the bunker.”

Dean’s smile was predatory as he pulled you into another kiss, “oui, m’dame.”

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altoblt5 · 3 years ago

Note

Wait actually this is intentional!

Sora IS a side character!

Riku was the original intended wielder for the Keyblade. He was fated to wield it. Nomura described Riku as essentially the typical Square protagonist. Worried, responsible, straightforward, serious, brooding, and caught up in an internal struggle. He’s like Cecil, he’s like Terra (FF6), he’s like Cloud, he’s like Leon. Riku for all intents and purposes would fit in the mold of a protagonist fairly well!

But Riku was designed to be the complete opposite of Sora. Nomura stated he was to balance out Sora. This shows in the beginning of KH1, instead of working on the call to adventure (the raft) Sora is sleeping. Riku expresses the desire to leave, Sora wants to be with his friends. Riku is stronger than Sora, he’s faster than Sora, he’s older than Sora, he’s more mature than Sora. He’s been fated to wield the Keyblade.

But Sora is just... Sora. He doesn’t have a tragic backstory like Kairi, or the will of Riku. He is for all intents and purposes a dull ordinary boy. The only thing exceptional about Sora is that his heart is open.

As the game progresses, Sora isn’t even the protagonist for most of the worlds you go to. The disney characters obviously are the protagonists of the disney worlds. You HELP Aladdin save Jasmine. You HELP Jack in Halloween Town. You HELP Ariel in Atlantica. You HELP Tarzan in Deep Jungle. It always seemed less like you were actively moving the story(ies) forward, and more like you were ensuring the stories were able to be told.

When you go to Hallow Bastion, reality kicks in. Riku reclaims the Keyblade without any effort. He’s the main character and Sora is just the side character, the delivery boy.

But he’s a damn good side-character.

Because he’s connected with so many people in his journey. His nature as someone who is so open-hearted and willing to help allowed his heart to forge connections with everyone. Through everything, he learned that the Keyblade, the thing that essentially marks the “protagonist” of Kingdom Hearts) isn’t what made him special. Rather, his Heart was his true weapon. Because his heart isn’t alone, it has become connected with everyone he’s met and those Connections are his Power (”My Friends are my Power!”).

And this is maintained throughout the rest of the games!

In CoM, him simply being reduced to the Keyblade’s Chosen is a BAD thing. The Organization wants his “Protagonist Powers” but not him.

In 2 Roxas and Riku are the main things the story revolve around. The Organization wants Roxas back as he would allow them to complete Kingdom Hearts, and Riku is directly opposing the Organizations goal. Hell Sora HELPS the Organization more than he stops them, but his main goal is to look for Riku.

In BbS even Sora wielding the Keyblade isn’t something that’s inherent to him. It’s just because Ventus is within his heart. In fact, Sora’s entire existence is just a small part of the Wayfinder Trio’s tragedy. But again, in BbS its Sora’s ability to open his heart and care for others that stands out. The simple desire to ease a sad and broken heart belonging to Ventus ultimately saved the World.

And in DDD, the Organization literally wants to de-person Sora. To shatter his heart and get rid of Sora as we know it and replace him with Xehanort. Sora even acknowledges his role.

“I know the Keyblade didn’t choose me. But I don’t care, I’m proud to be a small part of something bigger. The people it DID choose. My Friends! They are my power!”

And in 3, he is the delivery boy again. The Power of Waking is just the new Keyblade needed to get the true “protagonists” back. But by now he has really evolved into something more than a protagonist.

If the story revolves around the protagonist, then Sora is the axis. The person connecting every world and every story into something much greater.

The story is beyond his control, but unlike a protagonist who might struggle against their fate Sora accepts it. He’s willing to put all his heart into fighting to make sure that the connections tying everyone together (fate) are kept in tact against the person trying to sever that fate and start anew.

I don’t know anything about Kingdom Hearts but that Sora dude gives me such strong main character vibes. Which is weird cause he’s like, a side character

what are you talking about Sora is the main character

he's the guy you play as in most of the games

A lot of the plot revolves around him

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tigerinthestars · 7 years ago

Text

What Can Go Wrong Part III [Final]

Summary: What was supposed to be a simple heist spirals out of control. Everything seems to be going from bad to worse. What was Murphy's Law again?

Also, the one where Jeremy saves you from certain death.

Pairing: FAHC!Jeremy x FAHC!Reader

Words: 3,052

Warnings: Language and violence.

A/N: Here’s the third and final part! Enjoy!

Read it on AO3!

Part I ~ Part II

You don’t know how long you sat there grieving before you felt a hand on your shoulder. You looked up to see Jack had opened your door and was crouched down on her knees. Her red hair was frizzy and there was blood on her floral shirt. Jeremy's blood, you guessed with a hiccup. Her eyes were kind and sad, flickering between you and the hat in your hands, as she forced a smile on her lips, her thumb rubbing your shoulder in soothing circles.

"He's gonna be okay." Her voice wavered as she said those words, a single tear fell from her eyes. She looked like she wanted to say more but either she couldn't find the words or was unable to without breaking down, you weren't sure which.

You couldn't find your voice to respond, just fell heavily into her arms. A fresh set of sobs and tears spilled from you. Jack wrapped her arms around you tightly, her own tears fell onto your filthy shirt. You both were knelt on the floor, crying into each other’s arms. After a moment, there was a shadow that fell upon you both. You didn't move an inch as you sensed the presence of others around you. You looked up when you heard someone sniffle and saw the rest of your chosen family.

Michael had taken his glasses off and was rubbing his eyes. Gavin was hanging his head in defeat. Lindsay had her forehead pressed against Michael's shoulder, her lips pressed in a hard line and eyes screwed shut. Geoff had tears freely falling from his eyes, a hand covered his mouth and his gaze was fixed on the hat in your hand. Ryan had pulled his mask off and was staring at it in his hands with a faraway look in his blue eyes.

Jack looked up as well, her teary gaze falling on the hurting family as well. You both stood together. All of you stepped forward, together, arms curling around each other’s shoulders. You all had moved into a circle, creating a group hug with your heads bowed. Your arms had remained in front of you, Jeremy's hat still in your hands. You were all painfully aware of the absent member of your family. Your hurt shared between each other as you all stood in silence. That was, until someone was brave enough to break it.

"Is he going to be okay?" Gavin asked hesitantly, his voice small and heavy with emotion. His accent thickened in his grief.

"Yeah," Geoff managed to respond, his voice cracking, "They said he should be fine."

You let out a breathed in relief, your eyes closing as you tried to compose yourself. While the news was good, this still hit too close. It still was a shock. One you will not be forgetting anytime soon.

"Fuck." Michael muttered, his eyes red with tears. "What the fuck happened?"

"He saved her," Ryan answered, "He took the bullet for Y/N."

You looked up then, up at the faces of the people you called family. You saw the remnants of their grief and having verbal conformation that you were technically responsible stabbed you like an ice-cold knife. What if…

"Damn that boy," Jack said, "His heart of gold."

"This would have been a different story if Jeremy hadn't pushed you down." Ryan said, looking right at you. "Jeremy saved your life."

You nodded at him, but you couldn't help the guilt you felt. Jeremy almost died because of you. If you weren't there. If you weren't involved. Maybe…

"He cares so much for you, you know?" Jack spoke softly to you, perceptive as always. She may not know exactly where your thoughts were taking you, but she probably had a decent idea. She always did.

You nodded again and tried to quell the guilt you felt. Licking your dry lips, you tried to clear your throat. "When can I see him?" Clearing your throat didn't help much, your voice still sounded wrecked.

"They said they would call when they were done." Geoff answered you, his voice sounding much better than it had moments ago. "Why don't we all get cleaned up? There's no telling how long it will take."

Everyone mumbled their agreements and you moved as a unit to the elevator. In the bright light of the elevator, you were reminded of your sore head. You needed to be checked out by the medical staff. Although, everyone down there is probably busy with Jeremy. May as well get cleaned up and have half their job done for them so you have more time with Jeremy.

The elevator ride to the top floors was filled with a comfortable silence as everyone broke off to their floors to get washed up. You had kept your eyes down cast to the battered hat in your grip. You got off on your floor, biding everyone a nod as a goodbye, not able to force a smile yet. You shared this floor with Jeremy. You felt the lump in your throat reform as the reality of what almost happened dawned on you once again. You don’t know what you would have done if Jeremy didn't make it. If you had to come back here without him.

With a shaky sigh you made your way to your master bedroom with its en suite bathroom. Once there, you laid the hat on your bed, your gaze lingering on the silly thing before you moved to gather up some fresh clothes from your shared closet and enter the bathroom. For the first time since to heist started you got to see what state your appearance was in staring at you from your reflection. You saw red and puff eyes and dried tear tracks; frizzy and matted hair; soot and dirt on your face and dried blood on your temple coming from somewhere above your hairline, probably from when you hit your head in the car; and bruises blossoming all over yourself. You have certainly seen better days. You looked awful.

You began to carefully peel your dirty and ripped clothes off your body. Once done, you turned the shower on and waited for the water to heat up. You inspected your body for any more injuries. You only found shallow cuts and scrapes, thankfully. When the steam began to rise, you stepped into the spacious shower and simply stood there. You watched the blood get washed off your body and swirl down the drain. You wished your pain would wash away just as easily.

You went through the motions of cleaning yourself, trying and failing to keep your mind off what was happening floors below you. You didn't want to, but you cursed him for putting you through this. You were beginning to hate the feelings in your chest. How could he do this to you? What was he thinking? Did he think getting himself killed was going to save you? How damn selfish is that?

You swallowed around the lump in your throat as your scrubbed your scalp. You loved him with all your heart. With every fiber of your being. You were so thankful to have met Jeremy in the first place. But in this moment, at this particular moment, you wished you had never met him. If you didn't know him, then you wouldn't be hurting like this. These thoughts only made you hate yourself. The bitter taste in your mouth grew as you finished your shower and grabbed your towel.

You dried yourself off angrily, though you weren't sure who you were angry with at that moment. Once dry, you peaked at yourself in the mirror and resolved that you looked better. Pulling on the clothes you grabbed, a loose t-shirt and sweat pants and a pair of underwear, and brushing your hair you still saw the emotions flashing through your eyes, you saw the tension in your body.

You were startled from your staring contest with your reflection by a knock on the door. Putting the brush down, you ran a hand through your wet hair as you made your way to the door to your floor. When you opened the door, you saw Geoff and Jack, cleaned up and wearing comfy clothes like you.

"Caleb called. He said they're done. Jeremy is fine, sleeping and pumped full of pain meds." Geoff informed you, a smile on his face.

"I came to walk you down, if you don't mind." Jack added with a smile of her own.

"Okay," you replied, "I just need to grab something really quick." You turned and made your way back to your bedroom when they nodded.

Your gaze immediately fell to the hat on your bed. You grabbed it and one of Jeremy's hoodies and went back out to Jack and Geoff who had stepped inside when you left them at the door. They gave you sad smiles when they saw what was in your arms.

"You ready?" Jack asked.

You took a moment to think, was there anything else? "He almost died." Your voice sounded hallow even to your own ears.

"But he didn't," Geoff said immediately. "It wasn't your fault, Y/N."

"Wasn't it?"

"No, it wasn't. This was his choice." Jack spoke softly. "Don’t do this to yourself, Y/N.”

"Do this to myself? He-" you interrupted yourself and looked at the floor, stealing yourself. "Should I grab him clothes?" You continued in almost a whisper.

"I'll grab them," Geoff offered, "You girls go ahead."

Jack stepped forward and placed an arm around your shoulders and guided you to the elevator. She pressed the button for the basement level and pulled you tightly into her side. "I know it hurts right now, but know that this was not your fault. In fact, you can ask him yourself when he wakes up."

"Oh, I definitely will be." You said, the hint of a smile tugged at your lips.

"I am sure he will love every moment of the verbal lashing you will give him as soon as he wakes."

"He better, the fool."

"Aren't we all?" Jack said with a chuckle as the elevator dinged, signaling that you had arrived at the appropriate floor.

The two of you made your way through the infirmary, one of the nurses pointed out the room to you as you passed. Both of you paused, Jack's hand on the door handle while yours tighten their grip on the cowboy hat and the jacket. After a moment of hesitation, you both pushed your way into the room and you found yourself once more fighting tears at the sight of him.

Jeremy was lying in a hospital bed with a sheet tucked tightly around his body. Both his arms were laid out, IV leads connecting him to the machines that surrounded him, and a blood pressure cuff was secured on his left bicep. The heart rate monitor beeped in an even rhythm and was the only sound in the room. They had cleaned his face of blood and grime, as with the rest of his body, from what you could see. He was dressed in a white shirt which hid, with help from the blanket, the damages from sight. He looked peaceful, completely at rest. That's what got you. All this scare and he is just peacefully lying there, oblivious and ignorant.

Jack guided you to the chair that had been placed by his bedside in anticipation for your arrival. You sat numbly, not once looking away from his sleeping face. Jack pulled the hoodie from your death grip and helped you put it on, breaking your sight with him for a second. You looked to her, then the hat still sitting in your lap, and then you focused back on Jeremy's face.

"Do you want me to leave you?" Jack asked, running her hand comfortingly through your wet hair.

Before you could answer, Geoff entered with a pile of Jeremy's clothes in his arms. His eye flicked over all of you before settling on Jeremy, much like yours. He frowned before moving into the room completely, shutting the door behind him and placing the clothes on a table nearby. Geoff walked to the other side of the bed where he hesitated a moment. His gazed move to you and he seemed to be conflicted with what he wants to say to you.

"They said the operation to remove the bullet went smoothly," so he spoke more with the nurses and doctors, that's what delayed him, "Minor internal damage which will heal with time, so long as he takes it easy. He lost a lot of blood," Geoff's gaze shifted to the IV lines connected to Jeremy's arms, "so they're giving him some of that and morphine and saline. They said he may not wake until tomorrow."

You nodded your acknowledgement, not trusting your voice once again. You wanted to touch him, but he looked like he might shatter if you did. You didn't think he could ever look so pale. Or so fragile.

"They brought in a cot if you feel like sleeping." Geoff gestured to the collapsed bed on wheels behind him. You don't think you'll be sleeping tonight.

"We'll leave you two be," Jack said from behind you with a pointed look at Geoff which you missed, "Unless there's something else you need?"

You shook your head and opened your mouth to thank them, but you couldn't get the words out. Geoff just smiled at you, "It's okay, sweet heart. We know."

"Call us if you need anything." Jack said with one last look at Jeremy before both she and Geoff left you to the quiet room.

You sat and stared at Jeremy. Watching his chest as he breathed. You almost lost him. The sight of him falling on the pavement flashed before your eyes, taking the bullet that was meant for you without a second thought. The tears that you thought were gone began to fall again. You began to sob quietly into his bedside, a hand shakily reaching for his face down hand. It was cold, you noted with a sniffle. Your hand curled tightly around his bigger one, pulling it closer to you so that you could press your forehead against it.

You sat there, hand in his and head laid on his bed, Jeremy's hat squished to your chest by your other hand, for so long you fell asleep. Not even the nurses coming a going to check on Jeremy woke you. What did eventually wake you was pressure on your head. You felt a hand run through your hair. You blinked sleep from your eyes and slowly sat up to hear a gravelly "Good morning" from above you. Your eyes snapped up to meet Jeremy's warm, brown ones.

"Jeremy," you said with a gasp.

"That's me," he said with a smile, "Hi, Y/N."

After a moment of shocked silence, your felt the anger, the sadness, the grief, and the confusion from yesterday come to a front. The anger was the loudest. "What the fuck, Jeremy?"

"What?" Jeremy asked as if he had no idea what you were talking about, the ass.

"You know exactly what I'm talking about! What were you thinking?" You ground your teeth together.

"I was thinking I saved your life."

"And yours? You almost-, I thought you-" You couldn't even bring yourself to finish those sentences. You felt tears prick at your eyes again. You were tired of crying.

"I wasn't thinking-"

You cut him off, "Obviously."

He had the audacity to shoot a glare at you, "Don't look at me like that. You don’t get to be pissed at me. Not after what I went through these past twenty-four hours."

"I just-. Y/N, I wasn't thinking about what happened to me," You crossed your arms and sat back in your chair, "I was thinking about you."

"So? If you," you closed your eyes for a moment and took a breath, "If you died, what was I supposed to do?"

"And if you died? Y/N, I was presented with a choice, you or me. I chose you. That's all." Jeremy tried to sit up a bit, but a groan of pain stopped him in is tracks.

You shot forward and put a hand on his chest, "Careful! You were shot, remember? You need to take it easy!" You gently pushed him down back on the bed.

Jeremy let you push him back and once he was settled, he reached up with a hand pushed your hair back behind your ears and looked you in the eyes, "If my legacy is to throw myself in the path of a bullet to save your life, then so be it."

You reached up to cup his hand to your face and shook your head, tears in your eyes, "No, we go down together. You understand?"

Jeremy laughed at that, "Fair enough." He smiled at you, love in his eyes. "Com'ere."

With the hand on the side of your face, he brought your head to his, your lips met in a chaste kiss. You tried to convey all the pain and relief you were feeling into that kiss while Jeremy responded to you with an apology. When you both broke the kiss, you pressed your foreheads together and just breathed.

You heard gagging sounds come from your right and you both turned to the door to see the rest of the Fake AH Crew stood in the doorway. The gagging sounds had come from Gavin and Michael judging by their matching grins, Lindsay giggling along. Jack had warm smile on her face and Geoff was busy trying to hold in his laugh from the lad’s antics. Ryan even had a soft and amused look in his steel eyes, the ghost of a smile on his lips.

"So, how's the moron who got himself shot?" Geoff asked after he rained his laughter, only to burst out laughing along with everyone else and the crowd in the door made their way into the room.

Tears fell from your eyes, this time from happiness as you looked upon your family in fondness. There really isn't a dull moment in the Fake AH Crew.

(Anyone who says otherwise can kiss ALL your asses.)

#achievement hunter fanfiction #jeremy dooley x reader #jeremy dooley imagine #reader insert #fake ah crew #fahc jeremy #part 3 of 3 #complete

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another-chorus-girl · 7 years ago

Text

Erik House - Chapter 12

HAPPY HALLOWEEN!

Cherik smiled, admiring his work.

“Isn’t this quaint?” He asked Kerik, turning the pumpkin over to his yellow eyes.

Kerik rolled his eyes, “Have you missed the concept of this holiday? It’s suppose to be scary.”

The redhead sheepishly turned his carving back around. “But they’re crows?”

“You carved DOVES!”

“I think it looks alright,” Gerik interjected.

Kerik scoffed, “Ok, and what have you got there Gerry?”

Turning his around the novelized man was albeit a little impressed.

“Well now,” He breathed, “That’s quite artistic. He flipped through the stencils Cherik had brought. “What pattern did you use exactly?”

“I made my own actually. I um...I rather enjoy crafts.” Gerik mumbled.

“Ah yes! That explains the drawings and dolls in your room.”

Gerik pointed a finger accusingly.

“Those are NOT dolls! They are ceramic figurines I crafted thank you monsieur!” He exclaimed.

But then Gerik blinked, “Wait. When were you in my room?”

Kerik waved his hand innocently, “I have no idea what you’re talking about.

Cherik was oblivious to the masked men’s banter back and forth shakily avoiding Destler’s grin as he proceeded to mangle and stab rather than carve his jack o lantern.

“Yes, and here is the parlour, now mind you the organ can’t be used willy nilly whenever you please. But given the respective time, you’re more than welcome to it.” Crawford explained.

“This all seems quite extravagant. I’m surprised how well secluded such a large house like this is.” A deeper male voice commented.

The masked men glanced up at the new voice.

“Yes, Monsieur Fantome has gotten the odd visitors, but he prefers privacy.”

“New tour?” Warlow asked Wilkinson, whom glanced up from his paper.

“It would seem so. Sounds like we’re welcoming a new face into the house.”

Winslow wrinkled his nose in distaste, "What is that awful smell?"

Lerik scowled at his seat at the pipe organ and started scribbling on his board turning it to him, "I wouldn't know would I?"

Carpenter sniffed the air and his face crinkled in disgust, "No you're right, something does smell rather foul."

The men heard a squick squeaking noise and turned to see a rather damp Jerik enter the main parlor.

"Too cold, they're too cold..." The long haired man mumbled, passing by the men as he trudged upstairs.

"I hope the first place he's heading is the shower," Winslow noted pinching a gloved hand over his nose.

Carpenter cocked his head, "Isn't Harley still staying in his room?"

All of the sudden they heard an ear splitting screech.

"RATS! THE RATS THE RATS!" A frightful voice shouted.

"Not anymore," Lerik scribbled before turning back to his music.

Jones sighed closing the refrigerator, adding enough cream to turn his coffee almost totally white. As much as he yearned for something with caramel, every time their coffee order came his sugary frappucino seemed to always disappear.

Even this morning he'd rushed downstairs. Davis being the new man it fell on his turn to bring the abnormally large order-this being to the poor baristas displeasure to make every morning. But no matter who placed the order he was left with sad, steaming black coffee lacking any flavor except bitterness. He just couldn’t figure out whom was stealing his hot beverage.

So flavoured cream would have to do.

Jones glanced up, hearing a harmonious sound.

Elle sort de son lit Tellement sure d'elle La Seine, la Seine, la Seine Tellement jolie elle m’ensorcelle La Seine, la Seine, la Seine Extralucide la lune est sur La Seine, la Seine, la Seine Tu n'est pas sou Paris est sous La Seine, la Seine, la Seine

Mug in hand, the Merik walked into the main parlour. Cherik sat by himself on the sofa, totally in tuned to the television.

"What's this?" Jones asked, noting the screen was the source of the music. "A cartoon?"

Cherik's face turned pink behind the full mask. "It may seem juvenile. But I find it rather enlightening."

The Merik sat down, listening to the song.

"That doesn't sound like the voice I heard earlier?" He inquired.

The redhead shrugged his shoulders.

Jones features softened as he smiled. "That was you singing wasn't it?"

Cherik's lip curved upward, "It's a rather nice song if you ask me."

"Well, I think so too."

Hitting the rewind button, Cherik asked. "Care to join me?"

"Of course."

Knocking on the door Gerik tapped his feet impatiently.

When Kerik answered the door his hair was wild and unkempt, his shirt undone in the front hanging off his frail frame. He rubs his eyes, looking as though he just woke up.

"What?" Kerik croaked.

"Where is it?" Gerik asked. "Can't you ask before you borrow it?"

This only caused Kerik to smirk. This was not the first time the mannequin had gone missing.

"Don’t worry it's safe, I’ve been keeping him company while you were out. You're right, it is very life like. Especially after you incorporated Mr. Y's adjustments."

The film adapted man sighed and turned to leave but was yanked from behind.

"I'm not doing anything right now if you'd care to join 'us?" Kerik smugly smirked.

To tell the truth, while Kerik did admire the realistic craftsmanship the film adapted man had made, he moreso took the mannequin knowing Gerik would seek him out.

"Another night wouldn't hurt would it Gerry?" Kerik teased.

"I was intoxicated that night," Gerik sighed.

"You still seemed to enjoy it. Besides you could demonstrate for me your newly acquired skills our friend in the basement has been giving you."

The novelised masked man had a victorious look on his face as Gerik turned back around, walking past Kerik and into the dimly lit room.

On this night of All Hallows Eve, known to most as Halloween, the night was young and just beginning.

And it seemed all sorts of strange creatures were running amok tonight. Cherik admired these children and their creativity.

"That one looks quite imaginative!" Cherik beamed as a small group of giggling children zoomed past he and Jones.

"I'd like to think you were too," Jones added regarding Cherik's getup.

The full masked redhead wore a dark leathery material robe with a golden emblem pinned on his label, a maroon belt tied around his waist and adorning tall black boots.

Cherik couldn't help but blush behind his mask.

"I rather like yours too," He smiled.

Jones laughed nervously, "Yes, though I wish I knew Wilkinson was going as the same thing."

The Merik wore a blue and red coat and black trousers. Instead of his slicked back well kept wig he wore a longer, more frazzled and grey one. The facial hair he wore slightly itched against his mask, but it was just a minor annoyance that Jones could ignore.

Destler had to admit the gloves were a little irritating since the knives attached prohibited alot of use for his hands. But it was worth it getting a few good screams out of people he passed. Funnily enough he blended in not wearing any prosthesis on his face, but at the same time still struck fear in peoples eyes.

A gleam twinkled in his brown eyes as he spied a small boy with his back turned. He was ready to tap the child's shoulder with his knifey finger when a hand clamped on his stripe sweater adorned shoulder.

Destler turned quizzically, "What are YOU doing here?"

Mr. Y stepped past him, "Please refrain from scaring my son monsieur."

The child wore a similar coat to the taller man, his dark hair was combed and gelled back, wearing a white mask over half his face.

"Father look!" Gustauve pointed, sprinting to another well decorated and illuminated house.

Destler smirked, "Interesting costume, Y Jr?"

The older man shrugged, "He insisted, I said he could be whatever he wanted." Crawford was feeling a little tense. Not only allowing the Meriks to run amok the Parisian streets, but the fact that the other adaptations were out and about unsupervised.

Lerik scribbled on his board-his coat lacked big enough pockets so the mute had no choice but to carry it around. Tonight was one of the few occasions he was not wearing his mask, however he did adorn a dishevelled looking wig.

It read, "Why so nervous?"

The older Merik shrugged, "Not nervous. Just...a little apprehensive."

He hadn't intended to dress for the occasion, but the others implored him to once Halloween fever seemed to strike the house-though that started more specifically when Kerik started drinking pumpkin spice lattes.

While his costume was a little more extravagant-from the large collared cape, the long grey white wig and false fang teeth-it made more sense for the occasion than a a grey suit and straw top hat would.

Lerik tried to re-adjust the large lump on his back but was getting frustrated trying to do this whilst holding the board.

"Let me," Crawford said adjusting the hump piece. "How did you very well get this on in the first place?"

Meanwhile while most of the house residence decided to go out and enjoy being someone else for an evening, some had called it a night early.

Kerik frowned when he opened the door, expecting to see more children to scare. Instead Karimloo and Panaro passed him.

"I understand you, but whom exactly are you suppose to be?" The yellow eyed man asked.

The men turned, Karimloo dressed in a black cape with a raised collar, a maroon vest, and a poet's shirt. A small smear of red 'blood' ran down from a corner of his mouth.

Panaro was dressed a little more raggedly. The white shirt he wore was partially open, torn and red stained, his exposed throat wracked with teeth marks-whether they were painted on real Kerik wasn't too sure. The Merik's wig looked purposely dishevelled and little blips of red had dripped along his unmasked side of his face.

"The Count and Renfield of course," Panaro answered.

"Hm," Kerik mused, "I would have pegged you to be the vampire honestly."

Panaro shrugged awkwardly, "I was going to but that didn't exactly work out."

The Broadway man felt himself be yanked by his collar, Karimloo flashed a toothy grin.

"The night's not quite over yet," The West End man smiled, dragging Panaro up the stairs.

"Yes master," Panaro smirked, following his companion.

Kerik shook his head, “And their lot called me strange for dressing like a spider.”

Ho boy so alot of footnotes coming up:

-If you pay attention in the 2004 film, Gerik has several drawings/paintings, along with his stage diorama featured in two scenes as well as doll like figurines. So therefore, Gerik is artsy.

-Derrick Davis plays the Phantom in the ALW PotO North American tour (And the one I’m going to see in about a week!!!)

-Cherik is watching ‘A Monster in Paris’, an animated movie dubbed in French and English. The song quoted is ‘La Seine/The River’ it’s an adorable movie with lots of PotO elements to it, highly recommend.

COSTUME TIME:

-Cherik is dressed as Tywin Lannister from the television series ‘Game of Thrones’ as Charles Dance also plays this character.

-John Owen Jones is dressed as Jean Valjean from ‘Les Miserables’. He and Wilkinson being dressed as Valjean as both are very well known for playing this character (Colm Wilkinson originating the role in 1985)

-Destler is dressed as Freddy Krueger, Robert Englund’s most notorious role from the ‘Nightmare on Elm Street’ series of movies.

-Crawford is dressed as Count Von Krolak from ‘Tanz Der Vampires/Dance of the Vampires’ debuting in 1997, Crawford stepping into the Count’s role on Broadway in 2001. Also noting unlike it’s German running counterpart the Broadway production was not a huge success.

-Also the reference to a grey suit and straw top hat refers to Crawford co starring in the film version of the musical ‘Hello Dolly!’ in 1969 as Cornelius Hackel.

-Lerik is dressed as Quasimoto from ‘Hunchback of Notre Dame’ which Lon Chaney also starred in back in 1923

-The comment Kerik makes about Panaro being a more likely vampire is a reference to Hugh Panaro starring in ‘Lestat’ a briefly ran Broadway musical in 2006 based on Anne Rice’s ‘Vampire Chronicles’ novel series. Panaro was cast as the title character Lestat De Lioncourt. Like the Broadway run of ‘Tanz Der Vampires’, this was also not a huge hit. (I guess for some reason vampires and Broadway just don’t mix well together ¯\_(ツ)_/¯ )

#Erik house AU #PotO #phantom #Merik #Lerik #Gerik #Kerik #Destler #jerik #halloween

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scaplivingtogether · 7 years ago

Text

Seven Crimes and Punishments- Living Together: The Oujia Demon

Chapter 13

The Ouija Demon

The house they're residing in had been restored to it's natural glory as promised by Held, but the sinners are now precautions about the basement since the "Black Widow Incident" and had decided to leave it alone...however the only sinner brave enough to go down there was Kayo Sudou of Envy, who suggested in turning it into her personal tailor shop, the sinners agreed, now the basement belongs to her. The sinners had returned to their box after being discharged from the Hospital, their wounds have been fully healed thus allowing them to remove their bandages, they've spent the whole afternoon and evening just relaxing and not getting on each others throats like they normally do, well the only ruckus that most of them made are about Margarita's new engagement to Jun. Margarita was sitting at the dining room table with Banica and Kayo, talking about it.

"Ooooh I'm so nervous! I'm getting remarried and here I am getting chills." Margarita said, she can fell her pigtails moving with excitement, but then she started to feel sad. "But what if it doesn't go well like with...you know."

"Come now, Jun seems like a nice young boy." Kayo said. "Even better than that worthless playboy of a noble, forget about Kasper." She smiled.

"Yeah, plus his food is wonderful." Banica said, liking her lips.

"True but that's not a good reason to marry someone."

"Oh well, speaking of food, I'm hungry."

"Where was I? Oh yes, Maybe I can tailor you a wedding dress, Margarita, I got the best material for it."

"You're too kind Kayo, but you don't need to put yourself through all that work." Margarita responded.

"Think of it as a kind gesture." Just then, she saw Allen coming in the dinning room with a large pumpkin in his arms "Oh Allen, do you need help with it?"

"Ugh, no thanks." Allen said while showing signs of struggle. "I'm almost at the kitchen anyways. " Allen walks to the kitchen, he tries his best to not drop the pumpkin on the ground.

"Are we having a giant pumpkin pie?" Banica asked with an excited look on his face. "Maybe even pumpkin soup?"

"Riliane is cooking dinner, she can't make those two things in one night." Margarita said.

"Can't I dream?"

"You can but still." Kayo replied.

"Oooh you're no fun, Sudou."

"DINNEEEEEEEEEER!" Riliane called from the Kitchen, a triangle can be heard to, Sateriasis, Gallerian, and Nemesis soon walked into the dinning room once they heard her.

"Finally, I was starving." Banica said.

"And you'll soon be hungry in an hour." Sateriasis joked.

"Oh hush." She sees Allen coming into the dining room. "So what are we having tonight Allen?"

"I don't know, I was too busy bringing the pumpkin inside."

"I doubt Riliane can make dinner very well." Sateriasis smirked.

"She made pancakes on the first day." Gallerian said.

"Yes, but that's breakfast, this is dinner and it's more complex, I bet she comes out with disastrous results.

"I wouldn't be too sure, Sateriasis." Allen said smiling. "Look."

"Here it is guys." Riliane came in with a platter of food. "I made Grilled chicken breasts, homemade mashed potatoes, green beans with sliced carrots, and last but not least: buttermilk biscuits with a side of trauben jam." Sateriasis can mentally feel multiple wash pans landing on his head after seeing how well Riliane did in preparing supper.

"Told you."

"You brat, how did you do all this?!" Sateriasis asked with an angry tone in his voice.

"I learned it from Clarith while residing in the Held Monastery, age 15, brioche, and was a natural on the first try." Riliane said with pride in her voice, causing the Duke to feel even more wash pans falling on his his head mentally.

"Settle down you two, this ain't a popularity contest." Kayo said, Riliane then took her seat at the table.

"Now everyone hold hands, because we're gonna say grace." Allen said as the sinners did what he tells them, he began his grace: "Dearest Levia, we give our thanks and ask for your blessings for the meal we're about to partake in, Amen."

"Amen." They proclaimed and began digging into their meals.

"So Allen, what's with the giant pumpkin?" Banica asked while stuffing her face.

"Please don't talk with your mouth full." Allen said in disgust. "Also I'm planning on having it carved into a jack-o-lantern, tomorrow is "Hallows' Evening" after all."

"That time of the year already?" Nemesis asked, visibly excited. "Awesome!"

"I beg your pardon but what is Hallows' Evening?" Sateriasis asked.

"It's a holiday first constructed by the natives of Lioness and Marlon during the late-Magic Kingdom era." Gallerian explained. "It was celebrated on the 31st of October, a time of year that was often associated with human death. The Followers of the Levin faith believed that on the night before November 1st, the boundary between the worlds of the living and the dead become blurred. On the night of the 31st they celebrated Hallows' Evening, when it was believed that the ghosts of the dead returned to earth. In these days however before Margarita was born, many Levin followers began to detest the holiday as a ritual associated with demon worship currency of the Behemo Sect due to having a undead theme."

"Yaaaaaaaaaaaaaawn." Riliane said sarcastically.

"So it's like a Behemo sect ritual?" Sateriasis asked.

"Sort of but no, fortunately there's still some followers and people outside of Levin Faith who celebrate it up till this very day." Gallerian continued. "How can you not know that?"

"I've been indoors most of my life."

"Figures, *cough* pervert *cough*!"

"Anywaaaaaaaays, what are the customs?"

"Back then: it would be just bonfires and offering sacrifices to their gods." Banica said. "Though in recent years they removed the sacrificing and included trick-or-treating, costume parties, decorating, carving pumpkins into jack-o'-lanterns, apple bobbing, divination games, playing pranks, visiting haunted attractions, telling scary stories, and watching horror films instead."

Nemesis started making scary faces at the Duke. "Y'know anything scary related and filled with pure terror?" Sateriasis started shivering from looking at her, but then stopped when something hit him.

"Oh right, I saw some dwellers of hell viewing it, I thought it was just demon worship or a masquerade party."

"Nope, it's the very same holiday. Though trick-or-treating was a thing to satiate the ghouls or ghost's hunger, it now became more of a child thing." Nemesis drank some water.

"What do you mean?"

"It involves children dressing up and going door to door getting candy or fruit by saying "trick-or-treat"." Margarita said. "I heard It also became more mandatory in Gallerian's time because of the Witch Trials."

"That's correct." Gallerian said. "The fools believed that the witches would eat the children if they don't dress up as monsters."

"Pfft, please not at the table." Kayo said, holding her neck to prevent vomiting.

"Sorry."

"Ok, I see your point, If that were the case: what I should dress up as?" Sateriasis was brushing his chin with his forefinger.

"Now we're talking!" Riliane said patting his back vigorously. "I think we may have something in the attic...do we?"

"Yes, I checked." Allen said.

"Wait wait wait wait!" Kayo called out. "Aren't we just gonna stay in the box though? We can't leave the box and no one but Behemo and the Demons come here." The sinners sighed in a bummed out way, drooping their heads down.

"Not to worry, I have made a deal with Sickle for tomorrow night."

"What?"

"I asked Sickle to allow the children residing in the Heavenly Yard to visit the box to trick-or-treat tomorrow and extend us their good wishes." The sinners became relieved when Allen proclaimed it. "All I need now is help getting these bags into the living room for tomorrow night." He pointed at the bags by the door, they're five in total and are just around the same size as Allen and Riliane.

"What's in them?" Gallerian asked.

"Lollipops, each child participating gets one, no more, no less." The sinners were surprised by what Allen told them, who knows how many lollipops are in those bags, or better yet: how many children are coming?

After dinner

The sinners were browsing through the attic to see what they can find for tomorrow night, so far they found white bed sheets, black and orange fabrics, old masks, old clothes, and a stuffed black cat. While searching for more things to do for Hallows' Evening, Nemesis heard a thud from behind her, she saw a game board covered in dust, she picked it up and blew the dust off, the title of the box reads "Ouija".

"Oh! an Ouija board!" Nemesis said with a smile. "Mom and I used to talk to spirits with it when Friday the 13th is around."

"How you do it?" Kayo asked from behind her.

"You'll know while the others aren't around."

"Why?"

"Because I don't want my father getting involved and screwing everything up!"

"Don't be so negative."

"Oi! What are you two doing?" Riliane said, Nemesis hid the box behind her back. "This ain't a vacation now helps us out!" The two nodded, Nemesis hid the box under the shelf.

"We'll use it while the others are asleep." Nemesis whispered.

"Ok." Kayo agreed.

Later that night

The sinners eventually gotten ready for bed. Showers, teeth, pajamas, and all, after which they went to sleep...except for Margarita who sadly cannot sleep and can only lay down in the living room so she won't disturb her roommates with her chronic insomnia, and is unaware of the events that are about to occur tonight. At 11:30 at night, Nemesis woke up, she made sure that the people around her are asleep, she got out of bed and proceeds to wake Kayo up.

"Hey." Nemesis whispered as she shakes Kayo, Kayo slowly wakes up and sees Nemesis standing over her. "Ready?"

"Yeah." Kayo yawns and gets out of bed, the Sudous proceed to head into the attic, trying their best not to catch Margarita's attention. Once there, Nemesis got the board ready and lit the candles around her. Kayo has gotten slightly anxious from the site of the fire.

"What's wrong?" Nemesis asked.

"It's the fire...are they...?"

"No they won't catch anything on fire, I moved the furniture and put stands under them so they won't fall over. Now turn off the lights." Nemesis said, Kayo did and sat on the floor across from where Nemesis is sitting.

"So you and your mother can talk to spirits with this thing?"

"Yes, so far me and mother were able to contact a mischievous ghost from the spirit world, always telling us jokes and riddles, even the ones I'm not supposed to read."

"Read?"

"Yes, this planchette here with the open glass tells us what the spirit is saying by pointing at the letters and numbers, that's how they communicate."

"I see, I would like to know about my family with it."

"You sure?" Nemesis was concerned about what Kayo was seeking.

"Yes."

"Oh right, put your hand on the planchette." They both put their hands on it, they both clear their minds and took deep breaths. "Spirits living between heaven or hell, come forth and speak." Nemesis said, they waited for a response for at least a minute or two until..."Ah!" Nemesis gasped.

"What?" Kayo asked, she felt something moving under her fingers, her heart began pounding when she saw the planchette moving. "I-it works."

"Don't be afraid or shocked, demons from Ouija boards are attracted to fear." Nemesis instructed her, Kayo took deep breaths as the planchette moves, all the while the fire from the candles turn into an eerie red-violet, which could only mean one thing: "...It's here."

"WHAT GOES ON MORTAL?" Was the board's response, supposedly by a ghost.

"I'm Nemesis Sudou, this is my friend Kayo Sudou...no relations."

"THAT'S RIGHT, YOU'RE THE SINNER OF WRATH."

"So you know of my sins?" Nemesis asked, she was quite calm about this.

"WE BEINGS OF THE SPIRIT WORLD SEE MANY THINGS."

"C-can I ask?" Kayo asked Nemesis.

"Sure, remember don't stress yourself and don't show fear."

"Ok...Do you know me or my family?" Kayo asked, she tried her best not to show fear.

"WE KNOW NOT OF YOUR FAMILY." The being replied, "BUT WE KNOW OF THE SINS YOU'VE BESTOWED UPON ENBIZAKA."

"Ah!" Kayo gasped in surprise.

"Stay calm." Nemesis snapped.

"Sorry."

"ARE YOU TWO RELATED?" The ghost asked.

"No, I mention that already." Nemesis said.

"YES BUT THERE'S ANOTHER WAY THAT SHOWS THAT YOU TWO ARE RELATED." The ghost said. "BUT IT'S NOT THE SURNAMES, IT'S SOMETHING ELSE."

"Uhhhhhhhhhhh..." The two got confused by what the ghost had asked.

"TOO SOON?"

"Wait, aren't we the ones asking questions?" Nemesis asked.

"ASK YOUR QUESTIONS THEN."

"Um, ok...Wow you stumped us." Kayo said.

"IT'S QUITE ALRIGHT, THEN I HAVE A QUESTION FOR YOU."

"Oh, what is it?"

"I HEARD THAT TOMORROW IS HALLOWS' EVENING...IS IT TRUE?"

"Uhhh yes...why?" Kayo was sounding anxious.

"JUST WONDERING, WE SPIRITS DON'T NORMALLY COUNT THE DAYS OF THE HUMAN WORLD."

"Ok?"

"THE WITCHING HOUR IS ARRIVING, YOU MORTALS MUST GET TO BED SOON."

"Oh, your right." Nemesis said. "It's a pleasure talking to you." She then moved the planchette to the word "goodbye" under the numbers and letters, the planchette stops moving and the candles went back to normal.

"Wow, just...wow." Kayo breathed out finally, her heart was pounding really hard and fast.

"Awesome, huh?" Nemesis asked.

"Well actually to be honest, I thought it wasn't gonna work, but we actually talked to someone from the spirit realm."

"Well it did work, Mother and I are professionals." Nemesis puts the board in the box.

"Have you find it odd that the spirit asked if tomorrow is Hallows' Evening?"

"Well yeah but not to worry, I made sure the board is put back properly, so the spirits won't get out."

"Oh good." Kayo sighed in relief, the two Sudous blew the candles and left the attic...however, the bottom part of the shelf that was holding the box broke, causing the board to fall out, it glowed in an eerie red-violet just like the candles, then a red-violet silhouette came out of it, appearing like a young woman with long draped hair and no clothes on. In the bedroom, Kayo was about to fall asleep in her bed when she heard something, she left her bed to see what's going on. In the hallway, Kayo saw that everything was just the way it was, just as she was about to head back to bed, she heard a slow creaky noise that made the hairs on the back of her head stand on end. She turned around and saw that the attic was slowly opening and a ladder coming out, Kayo walked over to try to close it...but, she then saw a red-violet foot on the step, that surprised Kayo. "Wh-whose there!?"

Kayo breathed out in fear. There was no response from the person in the attic, but instead jumped down to the ground and began staring at Kayo with a sinister grin that signifies dread. The area around her and the strange being in front of Kayo was turning into a deep shade of red. Kayo ran back to her bedroom to warn Nemesis but as she runs, the hallway starts to get longer and narrower until the doors disappear and she was just running in complete nothingness. She turned around to find that the being behind her is gone, she stopped for a moment or two before letting out a sigh in relief, but as she turned around, the strange red-violet being was standing in her way. Making a very frightening demon like face and letting out a scream that is loud as a banshee.

"RAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAGHHHHHHHH!"

"AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!" Kayo screamed out in horror as she began flaying her arms around, she stopped and found that it's already morning and that she was still in bed, she looked around and saw the girls in the room were laughing and the being in front of her was only Riliane wearing a Red Hannya Mask. "Y-you little brat! How dare you scare me with that thing!?" Kayo berated the Princess as she snatched the Hannya Mask away from her.

"HAPPY HALLOWS' EVENIIIIING!" Riliane proclaimed as she made a v-sign hand gesture.

"I GET YOU FOR THIS!" Kayo was about to chase her before being held down by Banica.

"Geez calm down, Kayo it's only a harmless trick." Banica said as she was eating a black and orange swirl lollipop. "Though to be honest, I kinda expected that type of reaction from Nemesis." She pointed at Nemesis who is face planted on the ground, possibly from Riliane's prank.

"Hm, your right...where did you get the lollipop?"

"Allen lets us have one each." She gave her one.

"Good." Just then, the door opened up, slowly revealing a strange cylinder shaped creature with black holed eyes completely void of any light, this surprised Kayo to which caused her to let out another scream. "AAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!" And grabbed her scissors to attack it, but Banica stopped her.

"Oh, did I really scared you?" The creature said as "she" removed the white sheets from her head. "Good Morning!"

"Phew, it's just Margarita." Kayo calmed down. "Why are you wearing a bed sheet on your head?"

"I'm a ghost!" She said with a smile.

"Ha! I knew it was you the whole time." Nemesis said as she was standing up.

"Could you girls be any louder?" Gallerian asked with a cranky tone in his voice from being woken up by Kayo's screaming. "One of us wants to sleep more." Margarita, not pleased with what he said due to not being able to sleep herself pinched his nose, startling him.

"How do you think I feel, old man?" Margarita said to the Judge with a dark tone in her voice, she pulls on his nose before letting go of him, he covers his nose after that, she then smiles. "Sateriasis is making croissants and omelets for breakfast!"

"I hope he doesn't contaminate it." Riliane said as she and the others left the room. "Who knows what disease he maybe carrying?" After everyone left, Kayo grabbed Nemesis by her arm and pulled her back in the room.

"Hey!" Nemesis called out before being slammed into the wall.

"Have you closed the box properly?" Kayo asked with an angry tone in her voice.

"The Ouija box? Yes I have!"

"Are you sure? Because I had a dream about a demonic being attacking me because the box wasn't closed properly!" Kayo for years possessed an ability that once belonged to her ancestor Lukana Octo, the prophetic dream ability, which allows her to see the past and future via dreams based on a specific color. If colored purple, the future will happen and cannot be changed, No one in the box knows about her ability except for Allen and Nemesis.

"What color was it?" Nemesis asked, sounding scared.

"The dream was red." Kayo replied, which calmed the former dictator down.

"Then there's a chance that it won't happen."

"Yes, but still, we have to make sure." The two Sudous went to the attic to see if the box was properly close, much to their chagrin however, the box was tipped over because of the broken shelf, glowing in an eerie red-violet. "Oh no! Oh no! NO! NO! NO! NOOOO!" Kayo was now in a state of panic. "THE DEMON IS OUT! THE DEMON IS OUT!" She screamed on the top of her lungs before being slapped across the face by Nemesis.

"GET A HOLD OF YOURSELF KAYO!" Nemesis yelled at her. "Ok so a demon is out, but it's not like it has the will to kill anyone here right?" She finished with a smile before she began to frown. "Right?"

"We're dealing with a being who was haunting me in my sleep! Can you send it back to the box?"

"I don't know how."

"But you and your mother used this thing right?"

"Yes but the being we had was well-behaved, it had no malicious intentions on escaping the Ouija board, I never learned how to seal it back as a result."

"OOoooooh this is bad! this is oh so bad!" Kayo was pacing back and forth.

"Heeeeey! Nemesis! Kayo!" Sateriasis called from down stairs "What are you doing up there? Your breakfast is getting cold!" The girls let out a huge sigh.

"Ok, let's just calm down, we'll deal with it soon." They went down from the attic and down the stairs into the kitchen, Sateriasis was by the stove placing an omelette on a plate with a croissant and a couple of strawberries and blue berries on the side. "There you two are, don't you know how long I've been waiting?" He berated the Sudous, but then he smiled.

"Sorry we're late, Kayo accidentally knocked over her tailoring supplies so I was helping her out." Nemesis nervously smiled while receiving a plate from him.

"I thought you broke your toe up there." Gallerian sneered as he ate his breakfast, he received a middle finger from her, Gallerian threaten to bite it off.

"Where's Allen?" Kayo asked, playing with her blueberries.

"He went back to the heavenly yard to make preparations for tonight." Riliane answered, as she talked, Kayo was too distracted to hear her words because behind her was a hallway, but what caught Kayo's attention was the red-violet spirit standing in the halls, the tailor was petrified bu the site of it as it stared right into her soul through her eyes with it's black ones. "Kayo? Hey! What are you looking at?" Kayo snapped back into reality when Riliane said her name.

"Huh? Oh it's nothing." She lied, trying her best to not cause a panic in the box.

"Anyways, should we dress up for tonight?" Margarita asked. "I got my ghost costume ready!"

"We could actually!" Banica said as she licked her plate clean. "It's Hallows' Evening after all." She then took a bite off her plate.

"HEY HEY HEY! DON'T BITE IT!" Riliane exclaimed, she looked at the plate's bite mark. "Hm, actually I'll let this slide, makes a great edition for tonight." She gave the plate to Margarita, as she walked to the counter, she nearly felt limp, almost falling over. "Oh! Are you ok, Margy?"

"Y-Yeah, just almost tripped." She smiled as her arm shook a little.

~After breakfast~

Kayo was digging through Nemesis's box under her bed, she found a dark green book with the title "Bible of Held", indicating that the bible is from the Held sect, and inside is a necklace with a silver cross on it. "I just hope these work." She said.

"What are you doing?" Nemesis asked.

"I'm gonna try to bless the others, hoping that the demon won't posses them."

"Don't bless the sinners, it'll make the demon worse for us."

"What about exorcising?"

"Hmm...We could, actually. But we have no idea where that ghost went!"

"Where what went?" Riliane asked as she entered the bedroom.

"Uuuuuh Makeup! Yeah! Makeup for tonight!" Kayo answered.

"It's right here." Riliane said as she took out the box. "What are you guys gonna dress up as?"

"I'm planning on going as Kaguya-Hime, the protagonist of my country's folklore: "The Tale of the Bamboo Cutter"." Kayo said.

"And I'm going as a Shinigami, the Death Gods of Jakokunese mythology." Nemesis said with a devilish smirk on her face.

"But there hasn't been any official depictions on them, other than the fact that they're rumored to be hideous." Riliane said, apparently she's aware of Jakokunese folklore and myths.

"That's why I'm Improvising through literary works." Nemesis pushed a stack of black books under her bed with her foot. "I just need some red contact lens...what about you?"

"I'm thinking of going as the Queen of Hearts."

"AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHH!" They heard a scream coming from the men's bedroom, it sounded like Gallerian.

"Heh heh heh, looks like he's afraid of the queen." Riliane chuckled at Gallerian's scream, just then they heard a thumping noise.

"No, something is wrong." Kayo said with a worried tone in her voice, she walked out to the men's room, only to find only a judge's coat on the floor. "Gallerian's coat."

"Oh great, is dad running around naked again?" Nemesis said.

"He wouldn't leave his coat like this."

"What's going on?" Riliane asked.

"It's nothing, where is he though?" Just then, they heard a loud thumping noise from the floor. On ground floor, the only people there are Margarita who is making candied apples while wearing her ghost costume, and Banica and Sateriasis were in the living room, possibly working on their costumes. They then heard another thumping noise, but under their feet. "The basement." Kayo whispered to herself. They went down the stairs to the basement in order to confirm their speculations of Gallerian being in the basement, once they open the basement door, they heard muffling noises, indicating that Gallerian is down there, they went down the stairs, preparing for the worst to come. Riliane turned on the light to find Gallerian being tied up in a chair with the same red rope used on Sateriasis the other day, gagged with a handkerchief, struggling, and wearing a maid's dress. He gave Nemesis a death glare upon seeing her. While Kayo and Riliane are stunned, Nemesis burst out laughing at her father's situation.

"HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA! Hey! hey! Riliane! Take a picture!" Nemesis said as she passed the camera to the Princess, Nemesis smiled for the camera while doing a peace sign in front of her bonded father, Riliane took the picture, Gallerian made a angered muffle from that.

"NEMESIS!" Kayo called out irritably.

"Riiight right." She began to untie Gallerian's gag, he began panting

"WHY THE BLOODY HELL WOULD YOU BOND ME LIKE THIS, YOU SLUT!?" Gallerian cursed her off loudly.

"What?!" Nemesis was baffled by what he told her.

"DON'T BE OBLIVIOUS! YOU CAME IN THE BEDROOM, DRESSED ME UP! TIED ME UP LIKE AN WILD ANIMAL, AND LEFT ME HERE TO ROT!"

"I DIDN'T DO ANYTHING! I WAS WITH THESE TWO THE WHOLE TIME!" Nemesis was so enraged by this wild accusation that she was fixing to clock him in the jaw, Kayo got in between the two conflicting family members.

"Desist you two!" She said. "Nemesis would never use bondage rope on you! Even if she wanted to."

"That bitch obviously wants to try something new to torment me with." Gallerian sneered.

"Don't make me kick you again." Nemesis growled.

"Enough!" Kayo untied the red rope. leaving red marks on his wrists and arms, he stood up saying saying to Nemesis:

"You'll pay for this, bitch." He stormed off from the basement to change, they can hear Sateriasis laughing upstairs. "SHUT UP!"

"What the hell?" Nemesis muttered to herself.

"Ok, what is really going on?" Riliane asked again "I demand an explanation so no more excuses." Met with no other choice, Kayo sighed.

"Fine, but you can't tell anyone." Kayo said, she began explaining about the Ouija board to the former princess, from using it to contact spirits to how it was improperly closed. At first she thought that the Tailor was joking, but the more she hears, the more Riliane's smile goes away, now becoming aware of the dreadful curse that's now in the sinner's black box.

"If that's the case, then the one that attacked Gallerian was the ghost." Riliane said, fully aware of the situation.

"Yeah, who knows what it'll do next." Nemesis said as they walked back upstairs. As Kayo and Nemesis talked about the ghost, Riliane walked back into the hallway...that's when she felt a disturbing aura in the area, she looked and saw the same ghost with her very eyes, it caused her to be frozen in place that she can't even scream out. The red-violet being floated all the way to the bathroom upstairsbackwards, Riliane traversed up to the second floor and walked to the bathroom door, she stopped once she heard noises in there.

"Don't be afraid, Riliane." She thought to herself. "You have to be bold like father was." She slowly opened the door to find steam coming from behind the shower curtain, is the ghost taking a shower in there? She grabbed a shower brush and slowly walked to the shower, her heart was beating out of her chest, but was ready to punish the ghost for what's it done. Riliane took hold of the shower curtain with her left hand and thrashed it open to reveal the person inside the shower who unknowingly to her looks suspiciously like her...it was her brother.

"AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!" Allen let out a scream in horror as Riliane began to whack him silly with a shower brush. "NO STOP! AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHH!" But Riliane didn't stop, the ghost haunting the box clouded her judgment and continued to whack the daylights out of her twin brother before she began tiring out. At the same time, Allen, on his last legs desperately grabbed hold of the shower curtain and pulled it down with him to the floor. Riliane panted for a bit before straightening her dress, it was then that her expression turned from exhaustion into horror when she realized what she had done.

"A-A-Allen!?" She stuttered. "I-I-I-I-I'm sorry! I didn't know it was you!" Allen began to crawl on her dress with his hands.

"...E-e-every moment I live...is agony." Allen said weakly as he fell on the ground again.

Few Minutes Later

Margarita was putting an Ice pack on Allen's head, Sateriasis was in the background laughing his head off over what Riliane had done to her brother.

"I'm so sorry, Allen." Riliane apologized. "I didn't know it was you! I thought you were a ghost!"

"What Ghost? Is this a joke?" Allen groaned in pain.

"Yeaaaaah." Nemesis lied. "I was pulling a prank on Riliane, making her think there's a ghost here."

"Bu-" Kayo was about to say something, but was silenced by Nemesis. "I see, you should be ashamed of yourself, tricking his sister like that."

"Enough you two." Allen said, holding onto the Ice pack. "I know it's Halloween but like Kayo said, someone could've gotten seriously hurt, I know I had, Ow. So no more pulling dangerous pranks, especially on me!"

"Yes Allen." Nemesis said.

"And Riliane, please knock on the door next time, it's rude to enter without knocking."

"Ok." Riliane said.

"Now if you excuse me I'm gonna take some painkillers, finish taking a shower, and bring the kids over here."

"But it's not even night yet." Gallerian said, now dressed in his usual suit, sans the judge's cloak.

"I mean the ones who don't celebrate Hallows' Evening."

"Oh right, the religious ones." Banica said.

"So please, behave yourselves." Allen heads back into the bathroom. "Owwww, she whacked me hard." He said under his breath.

A half hour later

The sinners are setting up their chairs on the front porch, they're waiting for the children of religion to arrive and give the sinners their blessings in hopes of redemption, Nemesis was pacing around the porch with a nervous look on her face.

"Oh dear, I just hope that ghost doesn't get aggressive." She said to herself, "Considering that blessing us would make the it worst."

"I hope so too." Kayo said to the dictator.

"KIDS HOOOOO!" Banica exclaimed as she pointed at the distance, a bunch of tiny lights began falling from the keyhole shaped sun, coming down on different colors and sizes much to the sinners's amazement. Once they've reached the ground, the lights formed into many, many children, each of different ages, era, and nationality, and every single one wearing red church gowns and holding song books. The last one to appear was Allen Avadonia holding a conductor's baton. "Oh look how adorable they are! I just wanna eat them up!"

"That better be a figure of speech." Sateriasis said as he took his seat, "We cannot afford to be dragged back to hell because of your cannibalism.". After the sinners sat down in their seats, Allen readies his baton to conduct the children in front of him, the children began humming a tune, and soon began singing a lovely hymn.

"O our lord of old"

"From the heavens with this hymn I call to thee"

"To these souls damned by sin and blasphemy"

"Your light shall still be shown"

"To purify their sins"

"and return signs of hope to their heart and souls"

"Please allow these sinners to go hand and hand with thee once again"

The sinners quietly listened to every word coming from the hymn sung by the children of god, meanwhile in the house, the demon that was tormenting the household earlier was sitting by the window listening to the hymn. As Nemesis said earlier: the blessings would cause the demon to get worse...But something else had happened, the demon instead just laid by the windowsill listening to the children, nodding as a shear sign of fatigue before falling asleep there. Kayo looked by the window to see the red-violet being slumbering, much to the tailor's delight, Kayo tapped Nemesis's shoulder and pointed at the sleeping demon, to which confuses Nemesis but at least she can calm down a little.

"Lulila la lulila la la"

"Sinners and Saints, though differ"

"They're both our lord's dear children"

"And so are seven of thee"

Their song ends, the sinners gave a full round of applause to them.

"BRAVA LITTLE DARLINGS! BRAVA!" Banica exclaimed in happiness as she clapped vigorously, the children bowed to them.

"Thank you so much everyone!" Margarita said as she threw a bouquet of roses. "You're too kind."

After a few more hymns, the children bowed once again and said: "God bless you, and we wish you the best of luck." The sinners thanked them for their wishes and their performances. After the children left, Kayo, Riliane, and Nemesis returned to the attic to see the ghost, the said being was still asleep by the windowsill much to their confusion.

"I don't get it, mother told me that blessing the household would make the demon worse, but it's asleep instead." Nemesis whispered.

"Maybe there's a reason, either the hymn was a lullaby or it's a child." Riliane whispered back.

"Oh well, at least we won't have to deal with it anymore." Kayo sighed.

"I found my Mom's old journal." She said. "It also has the spell to put the ghost back". Nemesis then opened the Ouija box and began quietly chanting the words from her journal:

"Spirit from the hellish yard, desiring innocents to be maimed, return to the pit from whence you came." And like that, the ghost was sent back into it's box while it was still slumbering, the box closed by it's self, both of the Sudous and Riliane let out a sigh in relief, finally they can be at peace away from the demon within the box. Nemesis put the box under the broken shelf and put a book on top of it to increase the weight and chances of it not escaping, the trio left the attic soon after.

Sundown

Allen, dressed as a purple wizard with a fake beard carried the large jack-o-lantern he carved to the front porch and lit a candle inside of it. Inside the house, Banica was in the kitchen dress as an "attractive" chef with fishnet leggings, a mini skirt, a chef's hat, and high heals, she wants to try some of the cookies Margarita made for the sinners, but Margarita, dressed as a ghost again slaps her hand with her sheet covered hand.

"No! Bad chef!" Margarita said.

"Oh come on!" Banica complained. "I just want some of the treats."

"Why don't you snack on a ice cream pint in the freezer?"

"Oh very well." Banica walked over the freezer and found a few pints in there, Banica picked out a mint flavored one. Banica remove the lid, takes out the spoon, and happily devours it.

"What flavor did you get?"

"Mint chocolate." That answer caused Margarita to freeze in place, she knew full well of who likes that particular flavor.

"MINT CHOCOLATE!?"

"Yes, Mint Chocolate, why?"

"TH-THAT'S GALLERIAN'S FAVORITE FLAVOR! HE'LL KILL YOU FOR IT!"

"Ah bologny."

"Oookay, it's your funeral." Margarita said sheepishly as she left the room, possibly to avoid the judge's wrath. Banica blissfully enjoys the ice cream pint, completely unaware of her surroundings let alone another visitor in the room, she stopped when she felt a cutlass sword near her neck, scared, she slowly looked up and found that it was Gallerian, dressed like a pirate with a dark blue coat, white blouse, black gloves, black boots, brown pants, red sash, and a black hat with golden rims. He also has an enraged look on his face.

"The ice cream, give it back." Galleran said coldly, Banica frightfully complied, giving the pirate back his frozen treat. Gallerian causally bonked the chef on the head with a cutlass sword revealing it to be plastic. Gallerian took a bite out of his ice cream, forming an expression of happiness and pleasure.

"You scared me Judge!" Banica exclaimed irritably, "Who do you think you are?!"

"A pirate who loves his ice cream."

"Geez Dad, you've could've just said "please"." Nemesis came in dress in a biker chick-esque attire with platform boots, ripped thigh high socks, fishnets, one biker glove, a dark grey jacket with holes secured by baby pins, a black tank top with matching skirt, a cross with a choker, red eye contacts, and a black notebook in toll.

"What are you? an urban slut?" Gallerian asked, changing the subject.

"Screw off trash-beard-the-pirate, I'm a Shinigami...my interpretation that is."

"Whatever." He takes another bite of his ice cream.

"Oof!" Banica exclaimed when someone grabbed her from behind, she looked and saw the one responsible was Sateriasis, dressed in a nice black suit, black cape, and a white mask that's covering only the right half of his face. "Sa-Sati! We're related you nimrod!" She exclaimed embarrassingly.

"Sati? Who is Sati?" He teased as he picked up and tilted Banica's body back as is he was gonna tango with her. "I'm the phantom of the opera." He leaned in "Now, sing for me, my Angel of Music." He was then smacked in the back of the head by Nemesis's black notebook, dropping Banica in the process. "OW!"

"Knock it off pervert, we got kids coming over."

DING DONG

"Speak of the devil." She saw Riliane going to the door, dressed in a black and red version of one her dresses and holding a stuffed flamingo, going as the queen of hearts liked she promised. She opens the door to see several kids dressed up for Hallows' Evening, quoting:

"TRICK OR TREAT!"

"Oooh! Great costumes!" Riliane cheered as she gave the children their own lollipops.

"Thank you!" They thank her before being on their way.

"HAPPY HALLOWS' EVENING!" She shuts the door.

"I'll take it from here." Margarita said as she grabbed a bowl, the two sinners see Kayo going down the stairs dressed in a layered kimono called a junihitoe, pink, red, orange, and fuchsia colored layers of them. She was also wearing a black hime cut wig with parted bangs and a golden crown. "Oh my goodness Kayo, you look beautiful!"

"Thank you, I'm Kaguya-Hime." She said with a smile, "It's a little hard walking around in this though." She and Riliane enter the kitchen where the sinners are, she sees Banica messing with the radio.

"What are you doing?" Riliane asked.

"Jun gave me a radio channel before we life the hospital, he said something about "K-Pop"." Banica said as she was turning the nob on the radio, just then music started, it was loud and thumping and was speaking in a language that sounded like Makokunese but different, there were ounces of English in it though.

"What the hell is this racket?" Sateriasis asked, covering his ears. "Can you even make out the lyrics?"

"I'm not familiar with this language, it does have a catchy beat though." Banica was shaking her hips to the beat, but then the noise stopped, finding that Nemesis had pulled the plug.

"That is the most annoying thing ever, next to dad's crying." Nemesis said.

In the attic

The box under the shelf was glowing in an eerie red-violet color and convulsing, indicating that the ghost from earlier is now awakened from it's slumber once again. The box tipped the shelf and book over, allowing it to escape it's box again, it stretched before looking out the window in the attic. Seeing a bunch of children arriving to the box, the ghost smiled creepily.

In the kitchen

Allen had made homemade pizza, made with pepperonis, tomato, and basil, and had sliced them into slender pieces for each sinner, Gallerian was removing tomatoes from his slice with a fork and putting them on Banica's plate. "Giving me more tomatoes?" She asked while eating her slices.

"Well yeah, I don't like them so here."

"Huh, how generous of you, Father." Nemesis said, that comment made Gallerian blush a little.

"Don't get the wrong idea, everyone knows I hate tomatoes but I can't just waste them either." Puffing his cheeks.

"Looks like someone's has a little warm side to them, don't you agree, Riliane?" Sateriasis smiled, Riliane giggled.

"Sh-shut up!" He exclaimed. Just then, the lights went off, startling everyone and scaring the children trick or treating.

"Oh no, did we blow a fuse?" Allen groaned, he went to the cabinet and found a wax candle and lit it, he went out of the room to fix the fuse box.

"I-it's ok children! There's nothing to be afraid of!" Margarita said as she tried calming the children down, while saying that, she felt faint, "There's...nothing...to be..." She fell on her back, startling the children.

"HEY! G-GUYS!" A young boy exclaimed, "YOUR FRIEND FELL OVER!" Overhearing it, Sateriasis and Riliane ran over to Margarita and checked her pulse.

"Her pulse is normal, but what caused her to faint?" Sateriasis asked.

"I don't know, but she never slept either, maybe it's fatigue?" Riliane asked, they heard some of the children screaming outside, causing the kids present to run inside the house. "Wh-what's going!?"

"MONSTERS!" A young girl screamed.

"THEY'RE HEADING THIS WAY!" Another boy yelled, just then Allen came out of the basement.

"The fuse box isn't blown but I don't understand why the power we-...Why are the children here!?"

"Th-they're monsters coming this way!" One of the kids said.

"Monsters?" Allen moved through the sea of children to look out through the window, it was dark with the only exception of the keyhole shaped moon, he looked for a bit until he saw that there's several red-violet balls of light slowly coming towards the Marlon flat, and in those lights are strange looking creatures, each having a dark grey skirt and crown like appearances with red faces and arms, and large glowing yellow eyes. The site of them has made Allen's spine shiver and his hair stiff.

"WHOA!" He exclaimed. "WHAT ARE THOSE THINGS!?"

Banica looked out from the kitchen window. "Cripes, they're Flatwoods Monsters." Banica said in astonishment.

"What?" Sateriasis asked.

"Flatwoods Monsters, very common in Mastia's Alien folklore, they terrorize people until dawn, but how are they here?"

"Red-violet lights?" Kayo whispered to herself, that's when she realized something was wrong. "The ghost!"

"Kayo, now's not the time for ghost pranks!" Allen said, recalling the shower incident from earlier.

"N-no, I'm being serious! The ghost is real!

"What are you saying?"

"It's my fault." Nemesis said. "There was an oujia board in the attic and I brought the ghost who is possibly controlling those things upon ourselves." The sinners were both baffled and confused from what Nemesis said.

"YOU WHAT!?" Allen yelled.

"I'm sorry! I never meant for it to happen, I just wanted to show Kayo how it works! I closed the box properly! Honest!"

"Honest nothing! That thing tied me to a chair!" Gallerian yelled angrily. "I've could've rotted in there because of your friend, you sl-!"

"Hey hey hey! Not in front of the children." Riliane said, cutting him off from swearing.

"I'm so very sorry." Nemesis said with her head down.

"We'll deal with it later but now we have to take care of those monsters here." Allen said irritably as he pointed at the window, "They're getting closer."

"We need guns to shoo them off." Banica said.

"We don't have any, Held confiscated the weaponry."

"I found a BB Gun in the basement." Banica said while holding up a hand held BB Gun with a container.

"How did-".

"I guess the gods forgot about it when they made our house."

"Mine." Gallerian takes it and runs outside.

"Alright, but remember to give it back when your done, It counts as weaponry." Allen said, he then saw Riliane running up into her room, a few seconds later she comes back with a slingshot. "Where did you get that?"

"From my toy chest." Riliane stood next to Gallerian, took out an acorn from a small bag and aimed it at the monster coming towards the front door.

"Just a little closer." Gallerian said quietly, he shot the monster and it disintegrated, Riliane shot the other one coming from the right, Gallerian did the same to the one on the left, and so on. The children cheered for the their aim.

"Excellent! You two!" Kayo said.

"We're not through yet." Banica said, there's three near the kitchen's door, and the ones that were shot will just keep coming back til dawn."

"We'll either need to fight them off, or shut the oujia demon away!" Riliane said as she shot another one heading towards the kitchen door.

"Nemesis, this is a chance to redeem yourself for this mess." Allen said, "You need to properly seal the oujia demon away before we run out of ammo."

"Why don't we just attack them with brooms or rakes?" Sateriasis asked while holding a broom, he was about the exit the flat when Banica pulled him back by the arm.

"NO SATI! It's too dangerous to attack them at close range." Banica said, "There have been people getting pneumonia and swelling throats from making physical contact, you have to shoot those buggers from a distance."

"How? We only have plastic weaponry."

"It will have to do for now." She turned to Nemesis and said: "Seal the demon, Nemesis."

She nodded upon hearing the Epicurean's words and went to the bedroom, there she grabbed her cross and bible. Nemesis then returned to the attic with the things in hand and found the demon, fully awake, and floating. the Ghost turned around and saw Nemesis. The demon smiled wickedly at the former dictator. "I didn't want to do this..." She takes out the cross. "...But you left me with no other choice..."In the name of the great millennium tree, I command thy evil spirit: back to the depths of hell"!" As she was holding up the cross, the demon let out a wicked cackle, the cross didn't work. "Alright then, maybe a passage from the bible will do the trick then." She opens the bible and says:

"When the unclean spirit has gone out of a person

It passes through waterless places seeking rest

but finds none.

Then it says, 'I will return to my house from which I came.'"

Downstairs

meanwhile, the children are hiding in the living room with Kayo treating a comatose Margarita, she was confused to why Margarita fell unconscious when she could never sleep herself.

"Is she going to be ok?" A little boy dressed like a vampire asked.

"I hope so little one." Kayo said, "It's just weird though, what made her faint? Did something happened to her demon?"

"THERE'S TOO MANY OF THEM!" Sateriasis yelled from the front yard. He was throwing rocks at the monsters slowly gliding to them, each sinner present were shooting or throwing their own ammo at them, Riliane with a slingshot and acorns, Banica with a plastic bow with suction cup arrows, and Gallerian with a hand held BB gun. But every time they get hit they revert back to their original spot they first appear in and continue coming for them.

Soon Sateriasis and Banica ran out of their own ammo and ran back inside. "You can't be out of ammo now!" Gallerian yelled as he was shooting at the Flatwoods Monsters, he soon ran out of his round, he tried refiling the gun but accidentally dropped his bag of ammo, forever lost in the vast darkness, even finding them would be futile because they gotten too close. "SHOOT!" He dropped his gun and ran back.

Riliane and Allen were the only ones to stand up to them, Allen soon ran out of rocks.

"Oh no! Riliane we have to get back!"

"No! I can take care of these savages!" Riliane said as she kept on shooting acorns.

In the attic

"...And whenever the unclean spirits saw him

They fell down before him and cried out:

"You are the Son of God."

Nemesis finishes reading a few passages, only to fine that the demon is still there, mocking a yawn and wicking at Nemesis. "HURRY UP NEMESIS! WE'RE ALMOST OUT OF AMMO!" She heard Allen calling from downstairs.

"DAMMIT!" Out of sheer frustration, she kicked a tower of boxes which caused a chain reaction to occur, the boxes landed on the red-violet being, rendering it useless. Seizing the opportunity, Nemesis jumped on the demon and began to bash the ghost's head with the bible and yelled: "THE POWER OF HELD COMPELS YOU! THE POWER OF HELD COMPELS YOU! THE POWER OF HELD COMPELS YOU!" Over and over.

"O-O-OK! UNCLE! UNCLE! YOU WIN!" The demon said, it sounded feminine yet childish.

"Huh?...That voice...who are you?"

Downstairs

Riliane was out numbered by the Flatwoods Monsters surrounding the house, just then they all disintegrated into nothingness. "I-Is it over?" Riliane asked as the lights came back on and the kids cheered, Margarita began to stir, waking up.

"Oh your awake, Margarita!" Kayo exclaimed, relieved.

"Wha? What happened?" Margarita asked tiredly while rubbing her eyes.

"You've passed out."

"I have? That means Eve must be doing something."

"Eve? As in Eve Moonlit?"

"She's right." Nemesis said suddenly, over her shoulder was the bonded ouija demon that was terrorizing the household. ""She" told me everything." She began walking down the stairs as she continues. "This so called ouija demon had set the whole thing up, the oujia board that I used turned out to be a fake just to lure me and Kayo into a false sense of security thus starting a chain of events, why? Just for her own twisted amusement."

"Oh come on! I was just bored that's all!" The demon said. Nemesis threw her on the couch next to Margarita.

"Allen, remove her wig."

"Wig?" He asked.

"Just remove it." Nemesis said, Allen complied, he stepped forward and removed her wig, long strains of teal green hair fell out, much to their surprise and confusion. "The false Demon of Sloth; Eve Moonlit, I've should've known...how did you get out of the doll?" He asked.

"The Demon of Wrath let me out." Eve answered. "He wanted me to do him a favor, I only agreed because I was bored."

"That would explain why Margarita fainted." Sateriasis said. "By using your powers, Margarita temporarily went out of existence due to just being a persona."

"Now I get it, I fainted because her powers were on overdrive." Margarita said.

"What favor did the Demon of Wrath want with you?" Allen asked.

"I'm not saying, if I did you all be dead by now." Eve answered with a sadistic grin on her face, enjoying the view of the sinner's frightened expression.

"And why was Dad tied up while wearing a maid's dress?" Nemesis asked.

"I thought it be funny, plus I want to see if he looked cute in it, and he is."

"I AM NOT ANYONE'S DRESS UP DOLL!" Gallerian yelled. Just then the doorbell ringed, Gallerian answered the door, it was Behemo, wearing a black gothic dress with skeleton makeup on. "Behemo?"

"That's my name, don't wear it out." He joked. "I believe I have misplaced some children in this here residents...there they are." He stepped inside. "Where have you all been? Your parents are worried sick." He then saw Eve. "And what do we have here? An escaped fugitive?" Eve raspberries him.

"Eve was summoning those Flatwoods Monsters at us!" Riliane said.

"Is that right? Well then we'll make sure she doesn't do that again." Behemo then walked over to Eve and threw her over his shoulder much to her disdain, "Come kids! Back to the Heavenly Yard!" Just as the children are leaving, one little girl stayed behind, she smiled and said:

"Thank you for protecting us, Sinners."

"You're very welcome dear." Banica said, smiling. The girl ran back with the others to the Heavenly Yard, they saw as many partials of light flew into the keyhole shaped hole. Just as things are finally calming down, a piece of parchment flew down onto the porch. Kayo picked it up and saw that it was written, it said:

~Dear Sinners,

You've think I'm through with you yet? I think not. In fact: I've enjoyed my time terrorizing you eight with my Flatwoods Monsters that I've decided to make it a new tradition. "Every year on Hallows' Evening night, at 2:30 AM, my Flatwoods Monsters shall attack your home until 5:45 AM, if you can fiend them off till then you win! If not...well you'll just have to find out yourselves." Be sure to stock up on plenty of ammo! Happy Hallows' Evening!

Love, Eve Moonlit! XXX~

This news had gave Allen and the sinners a look of horror, now they're forever cursed with having to deal with Eve's new "Holiday Tradition". "I'm so sorry about this, I never attended it to happen." Nemesis said quietly.

"It's fine, Nemesis, it wasn't really your fault to begin with anyways." Allen said.

"Yeah but now we got an invasion coming after us next year."

"That's true, but we'll be ready when it happens...Come on, let's just enjoy the rest of the evening before it gets any later, we got to get up early tomorrow." They all headed inside.

"Get up early? For what?" Riliane asked.

"We'll be returning to Capriccio Academy tomorrow." The sinners stopped when they heard the name of that place, their first day of course was pretty rocky so it was highly understandable to why they hanged their heads down in utter disappointment.

END CHAPTER

#chapter with illustration #evillious chronicles #fanfiction #Seven Crimes and Punishments #book 1 #chapter 13

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